PLANS to create a Men’s Shed in a Herefordshire town have been slammed by a councillor.

Men’s Shed is a charity working to improve the health and wellbeing of retired men over the age of 55, by welcoming them into a practical workshop environment to make friends and socialise.

But in a council meeting on September 28, Ledbury Town Councillor Tony Bradford said that this concept was “discriminatory” and asked the council: “Where’s the women’s shed?”

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The town clerk said that the council was looking for a space to set up a Men’s Shed in Ledbury for local men to get together as a way of helping their mental health.

Coun Bradford told the council: “I don’t need help as a man.”

Charlie Bethel, chief officer of the Men's Shed Association, told the Hereford Times: "Unfortunately the Councillor's view is not unique, but it is becoming less common.

"To suggest men do not require support and that such support might need to be tailored to men is clearly uninformed. I would be happy to meet the Councillor and discuss this.

"Many people attend to support their communities. Sheds support wellbeing, and in a survey, we are told that 39 per cent of our groups know or believe that they have saved a life.

"The Women's Institute and women-only swimming sessions provide support for women and rightly so. We all need spaces to support us and to visit."

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A Men's Shed webpage dedicated to frequently asked questions about discrimination reads: "Answers to such questions are determined by the Equality Act 2010. The Equality Act legally protects people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society. The charities' exception allows a charity to limit its benefits to people with protected characteristics. The name Men's Sheds indicates that they are directed to helping men. "

The Equality Act's official guidance for charities says: "The Equality Act 2010 allows charities to limit the group it benefits to people who share a characteristic. Although this discriminates against people with other protected characteristics, it is allowed if the charity's governing document only allows people who share a protected characteristic to benefit, and can be justified."