Councils are 'ignoring pensioners'

A third of the UK's pensioners feel their needs are ignored by local councils, a charity has said.

Help the Aged published a report on Friday concluding that four million of the country's 12 million older people think town halls do not take their well-being into account.

The figure is an estimate based on a survey of 1,000 people over the age of 60.

More than half of those surveyed claimed that local authorities do not ask their opinion on issues affecting the elderly.

The charity is calling for councils to consider whether they are fulfilling their duty to stop discrimination against older people.

Policy officer Amy Swan said: "When making decisions about public services, local authorities should be legally bound to consider the needs of people of all ages, including older people.

"All too often, age is felt off the equality agenda when disability, gender and race are, quite rightly, included."

The Local Government Association disputed the claims.

David Rogers, chairman of the LGA community wellbeing board, said: "Councils always take into account the views of older people.

"As well as general consultation methods such as mail shots, there are over 400 senior citizens' forums in the UK which local authorities regularly contact when making decisions about public services."

He added that lack of central government funding was to blame for any pressure on services for the elderly.