Hospital social club facing closure

A £100,000 REPAIR bill and dwindling membership has forced the closure of Torbay Hospital's sports and social club.

Spiralling costs and electrical problems forced the immediate but temporary closure of the licensed premises in April.

But faced with the £45,000 repair bill, increasing running costs and dwindling membership, the club's committee this week proposed the lights be turned out permanently.

But members are making an 11th hour attempt to save the club and have been given 28 days to raise the cash needed to reopen the doors.

Social club chairman and senior nurse at Torbay Hospital Nigel Ford, explained: "The club has been an icon for 30 years. But it has fallen victim to the recession like many other licensed premises.

"It got to the stage where it was making a loss and there comes a time when you have to take a pragmatic action.

"I was as clear as I could be that the financial situation is so dire I do not think the business is viable."

He added: "A few members have formed a working party and have been given 28 days to come up with a plan to save the club.

"In my experience if they do raise sufficient funds to get the club open again, the working capital they need will not be forthcoming.

"I am 90 per cent sure the club won't be reopening."

The social club owns the building and the site also includes a swimming pool.

If time is permanently called on the premises, the committee has recommended the building is given to Torbay Hospital for decommissioning.

A spokesman for Torbay Hospital said it is far too early to speculate on what would be done with the building.

Mr Ford added: "It is a big loss because it is such an important part of the hospital.

"The club will be missed by the staff who use it in the evenings and weekends and the NHS retirement fellowship who used to meet there twice a month."

He said things had been going downhill for a long time.

"There used to be 400 to 500 student nurses living within a stone's throw of the club. But they have all been moved to Plymouth," he added.

"The club has experienced a slow decline with the changes in people's ways and support for the club is diminishing."

In a statement taped to the door of the club, Mr Ford said the club has declined despite attempts to revive the premises which were supported by the care trust.

"We have also now let the trust management know that we will be recommending that the club is wound up," he added.