Legion must pay the bills or close

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A CASH-STRAPPED Spa club could be forced to close its doors in the next ten days if it cannot raise enough cash to pay a large utility bill.

The Royal British Legion club on Salwarpe Road faces closure unless residents can come to the its aid with donations to help pay the bill.

Treasurer Larry James told The Standard the club were struggling to pay bills from the winter months and their plight has been compounded by a lack of use by members during the summer.

“We have got crib teams, domino teams and darts teams but unfortunately they don’t play during the summer when we really need the revenue,” he added.

And as well as financial support, the committee has also pleaded with residents to back the club and become members.

“We do have around 300 members but only 15 to 20 per cent of them use the club on a regular basis. If that amount of people spent around £10 a week then we would not have a problem,” Mr James added.

The venue has been an integral part of the town for a number of years and offers help and support for the town’s popular Remembrance Service and Poppy Appeal.

In recent years, the club has gone further and hosted events to boost the Poppy Appeal which supports members of the Armed Forces past and present.

Staff have also thrown open the doors of the club to a number of community-based ventures such as the monthly Give Blood

sessions and a selection of local groups including the town’s popular Youth Zone.

Committee members also hope more people will be interested in using the club’s spacious concert room for parties during the summer months.

But the club has been plunged into crisis with the arrival of the utility bill combined with the economic uncertainly which has played its part in the closure of a number of pubs and clubs in recent years.

Coun Richard Morris, club president and Wychavon District Council chairman, said: “The economic situation and declining membership has caught up with the Legion.

“I really hope Droitwich residents step forward to retain the club, it is in a critical state and the next two weeks will determine if we can stay open or not,” he added.

Anyone who can help is asked to send donations to Larry James at the Royal British Legion in Salwarpe Road or call him on 01905 794431 or 01905 770080.

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