AS A soldier in the Cheshires from 1991 to 1999, I served in Germany, Bosnia, Northern Ireland, America, Africa, and Belize.

After I came out, I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which was hard to deal with for a number of years.

I had local counselling in Wirral and was on medication for a while.

Even this was tough after all these years of operational tours and postings .

But the only thing that got me through it was the fact that I could go the gym while I was getting better.

It got me up in the morning, gave me a purpose again.

The council’s decision to stop the current plan for veterans is outrageous and foolish.

While they try and save money at one end, it will cost them more at the other end of the scale as local veterans who use these facilities could become disheartened and think what’s the point of getting up.

The money involved to provide these veterans with more counselling because they can’t get to the gym or meet other veterans there will amount to more chaos, drugs and alcohol issues and more lads on the street not knowing where to turn.

I got through my issues and now I am a mental health support worker for adults and children – it was because of the gym and facilities available that made me get up and want to be better.

I hope the council will consider all of this when they are eating their nice lunches.

Lenny Stone by email.