A BRAND new forum for older people is to be launched in Romsey next week with the aim of giving the over-55s a chance to have their say on national and local issues.

A meeting will be held at the Age Concern centre in Linden Road on Monday afternoon (2.45pm).

One of the driving forces behind the move is Test Valley Borough Councillor and former Romsey Mayor Dorothy Baverstock who said the title of the new organisation was likely to be Older People's Voice.' She commented: "It is for people over 55 who constitute the largest group of the population who basically have the fewest rights and we want to help enable them to bring things to the attention of the Government and their local authorities.

"Women have fought for equal opportunities and equal pay in their working lives and when they retire they lose the equality in their retirement income.

"Also, there are no employment rights for people over 65 who remain in work and there is some discrimination in medical services, particularly with regard to treatment for depression which is denied to some elderly people."

Guest speaker will be Diane Andrews, founder of the Eastleigh Old People's Forum, who has built it into an organisation which has now achieved Government recognition and is a consultee on older people's issues.

As well as the serious issues, there will also be a social side to the new organisation and although nothing has yet been decided, it is likely that meetings will take place every two months.