Lib Dems In Talks Over Civil Service Club's Future

10.13.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 31st Mar 2008

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Richard Burt held discussions with National Civil Service Clubs' Chief Executive, Marion Holmes late last week about the proposed closure of the CSSC club at Spring Lane, Malvern.

Mr Burt and County Councillors Clive Smith and Penelope Morgan are distributing a petition and survey across the town asking people's views on the closure and the prospect of a Tesco supermarket being built on the site.

Richard Burt said: "I had a full and frank discussion with Marion and told her of the strength of feeling locally against the closure.

"However, she said the club had lost £150,000 over the past four years and had been surviving on reserves, which had now run out.

"She declined to meet with councillors and local user groups to discuss offsetting the losses with increased use, but did agree to my suggestion to consider a lease arrangement to run the club if it was in the best interests of members.

"The Chief Executive refused to confirm or deny that Tesco had expressed interest in buying the 4 acre site."

Councillor Penelope Morgan said: "We will be contacting groups locally over the next few days to see if there is the potential to put together a joint bid for leasing the premises from the Civil Service Clubs Association, which would mean the facilities could still be made available to local CSSC members."

Councillor Clive Smith said: "Initial responses to our petition and survey have been very encouraging. Everyone who has responded so far supports the retention of the club, and people don't seem too keen to see another supermarket built on the site either."