Why then, should government continue to provide anything at no cost to the users? Schools, medical services, police, highways, parks, rubbish collection, ..., ..., ...?

Let's have those middle class filchers pay for their own roads from next year. Better yet, let's make sure that the better off pay for things that they can't use. That'll show us indolents just how mistaken we are in hogging the freebies for ourselves.

Get a grip, Paul. Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and think about what's fair and right.

Brilliant!

Thanks for the hilarious article.

I am an affluent Moseley resident who previously didn't know about this scheme but have now just signed up for it. Sweet!

Dear oh dear, the clichéd class war on the streets of B'ham (yet again)! Here's my tuppence worth.

No wonder the middle classes have largely deserted this self-styled salt of the earth, blue collar town. Indeed, the city's outlook is so parochial and backward that no wonder the region perpetually rates so lowly in terms of employment and economic prospects nationally (ie. somewhere near the foot of the league table).

This initiative from the (not unreasonably) much maligned BCC represents a highly laudable socially democratic project aimed at improving the health of every citizen in this fair city, and at £9m is a snip in terms of potential quality of life gains (with knock-on effects of savings on NHS bills etc).

But if the poor old working classes can't overcome their inherent apathy and terminal malaise to prise themselves free of their 40" HD TVs and jump into their 4x4's to avail themselves of the nearest free civic amenities on offer, then tough.

As for me, it's obvious my economic, civic and social contributions to this city are unwelcome, so I'm taking my hard working, highly educated, highly skilled (and, now, much fitter, nay, almost svelte) middle class backside back home to the south and wrest a substantial job back from one of the, no doubt, many Midlanders who've emigratated there for a better life.

Yep, it's grim up the Midlands!

Ummmmm, last time I went to the gym the FREE offer only runs up to 5pm.

So most people with all this money must be AT WORK EARNING IT!

I am not middle class and I have to pay £30 a month to use the council gym as I can't use it in the day.

Of course...that would make your ranting a lot less valid, so you don't appear to mention it.

As a council tax payer who jointly paid for the pools and gym in the first place I've always objected to then having to pay again to actually use the dam things.

This is one initiative that means I actually get some benefit from my council tax. Which is nice, because it usually seems to be those who either don't pay the tax or get it subsidised who enjoy the facilities I pay for. What an ill-judged rant by this regional journalist.

I have to say as a hard working resident of (yes) Kings Heath it makes a refreshing change to have a publicly funded freebie that I can actually take advantage of. It makes the daily early morning drudge to work a little less annoying, and the horrendous crawl home past the pubs with numerous bone idle leaches stood outside with their drinks while smoking away my hard earned taxes a little more bearable to know that my swim at lunchtime was free. These people too could be taking advantage of the same, its open to all, but of course that may take a little more effort than saying “same again” at the bar, or 20 Benson please. Please don’t think that I’m having a go at the unemployed in general, (I am more than aware of the current difficulties in the jobs market); more the under class of ‘job dodgers’ who put all their energy into avoiding contributing anything to society, yet have worked out how to screw the hardworking tax payer out of every last penny of benefit that they can get their hands on. Why is the author no wondering why these ‘poverty stricken’ are kitted out in the latest designer gear, trainers, gold chains etc, not to mention the satellite TV count in so called deprived areas, does he not think that this is a gross waste of tax payers money? I’m grateful and happy that a very small part of my taxes has gone to provide a free of charge useful service that is open to absolutely everyone, thank you BCC, NHS or whoever, and long live Be Active.

I don't live in Birmingham council tax area so have always paid to use Birmingham gyms.

This scheme is excellent - it means the gym is much quieter in the evenings when I would usually go anyway, and it isn't costing me any more, so I'm wholly in favour of this scheme.

But seriously, on weekdays it's only free before 5pm so if the 'middle classes' (i.e. those who work, pay tax and paid for the gym in the first place) want to use a Birmingham gym, they're likely to be paying anyway.

I do agree to some extent if the council's budget is under such severe pressures it will be axing 1000's of jobs.. but offering out free gym sessions... some of their priorities i do question,

but i would like to point out i am employed, and i cannot take advantage of the active scheme and i doubt many others can either. you have missed an important point out of your article, i wonder if this was deliberate to reinforce your argument how scandelous the scheme - you can only attend the gym for free OFF PEAK - ie. day time monday to friday - when i guess most of the ''well off' are at work. i go in the evenings, so i still pay the £35 a month membership, i go to cocksmoor woods, and there are many others there that also pay this amount, or pay per session (i think about £5).

i think you should have carefully thought about this factor before you started your rant.

oh and how original it was for you to use the 4 x 4 stereotype .

Many councils have free entry to museums; museums that cost tax payers millions of pounds, so why is free sport so crazy.