A CAMPAIGN has been launched to help save Buckley Working Men’s Club.
The social club has been an important fixture in the town since 1928 – but fears have been raised over its future due to the economic climate.
If trade does not pick up at the Brook Street club, which hosts functions and provides rooms for clubs and societies, it could close.
Glyn Wilcock, a committee member for more than 40 years, said: “It is very important to the community. There have been so many places that have shut down.
“This is the only club left in Buckley. It has a long history in the town.
“A lot of the members are single people who have lost their partners over the years, elderly members of the community who would have nowhere else to go.
“They come here feeling safe. It is a facility for the whole community.”
The club is run by a volunteer management committee and any profits are ploughed back into the club. It hosts entertainment on weekends and has a function room to hire.
Buckley has already lost its Royal British Legion club, which closed two years ago.
Mr Wilcock said: “It is hard work at the moment, it is tough because of the economy. We have cut back everywhere we can.
“We are appealing for people to come out and use the club to keep it here.
“If it closes down it would be huge loss to the town.”
There are about 100 regular members who use the club on a weekly basis.
Eric Davies, treasurer, said: “Many of our members have told us they won’t go out if
we closed down.
“A lot of the elderly people would stay in and lose that social aspect of their lives. They would have nothing.
“A new committee has been formed because of the dire situation and we have had to sell our assets. We have no debts at this time and we have made cutbacks.”
Buckley Organ Society, which used the club for 15 years, has disbanded after the club was forced to increase hire charges.
The club had been hiring the space out at a loss for a number of years.
Mr Davies said: “We have had to say goodbye to the society. They are a charity and I had the unpleasant task of telling them.
“We cannot support them anymore.
“We want people to use the venue. The premises are available to be used.
“If we could hire or rent the club every Friday, we would survive.”