THERE are many issues across Wirral caused by seemingly perpetual "austerity" measures that could be higher up the priority list than that of snatching back parting gifts given for 25 years service to council workers.

Without any trouble at all one can think of the closure of the Lyndale School - although whether this is a cost-saving is an open question - the threat to Girtrell Court respite centre, the death by 1,000 cuts to our libraries and the backlog of repairs to street lights to name but four.

But the town hall demanding pensioners return their "Passports for Life" - free passes to council-run gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools - seems particularly cruel.

Around 400 former staff who received the free access passes have been affected by this mean-spirited act.

Apart from anything else, it is the height of bad manners to present a colleague with a leaving gift - only to then insist he or she returns it.

In fact it is hard to imagine anyone actually doing this in "real life."

Yet this is precisely what our local council is up to.

Yes, there are more pressing issues, but this penny-pinching seems cold-hearted in the extreme.

The pensioners have launched a fightback trying to persuade the ruling Labour group to rethink.

The Globe fully supports their campaign and urges council leader Phil Davies: "have a heart - and let the pensioners keep their passes."