The resentment towards the idea has led one regular user of CentrePoint to begin a petition urging Blayney Council to abandon the idea.

Lesley Barnes said that she launched the petition because she knows a number of older users of the facility who don’t use cards for their everyday purchases.

“For a lot of them it is a simple matter of pension in, and pension out,” she said.

‘They don’t have cards for these purposes, they just have cash, and when they can afford the $4 for a session, they go. 

“They don’t want to spend money on 10 tickets because they won’t have the money for it, regardless of the savings.”

Blayney’s deputy mayor David Kingham said that he had received a number of calls from residents about the issue, and was concerned about the impact it would have on families.

“If you’re going to take some of your own children and some of their friends to the pool on the weekend or after school, how will they organise that if they can’t just pay cash?” he said.

Ms Barnes is also concerned about older children using the centre, particularly those wanting some independence.

“When my grandchildren turn up in summer they like to go to the pool, and there is no way I would hand over my credit cards to them to allow for pool entry,” she said.

General manager Rebecca Ryan said that it wasn’t council’s intention to refuse entry to anyone who does not have a card for payment, and that a trial period will be implemented.

“Throughout the trial period from September 1 to March 1, 2019, cash payment will continue to be accepted during certain hours,” she said.

Ms Barnes’ also pointed out that the recycling shop at the waste management facility would also be adversely affected by the new system.

“Am I supposed to use a card to pay for a one or two-dollar purchase?” she said.

“Recycling is very popular at the moment and Blayney Council is very good at providing an area for people to find their treasure.”