Pensioner plea on 'lifeline' club

11:13am Sunday 25th March 2007

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A PENSIONER has appealed to the council to safeguard the long-term future of an over 50s club.

Kathleen Redfern, chairperson of the Middlesex Over 50's, in Burnley, said the long- term future of the club was in doubt after council bosses only agreed to fund the club for another 12 months.

She said the loss of the Middlesex Avenue club, which makes money by charging pensioners £2 for a three-course meal, would be huge blow to the pensioners.

The 79 year-old, of Surrey Avenue, Burnley, said: "I am worried over the long term future of the club.

"Three weeks ago they said they had found enough money to keep the club going for another 12 months. But this will not change the long term prospects. So we thought this would give us another 12 months to raise the money but we are all pensioners or disabled people who can't afford this." Mrs Redfern said the council wanted to close the club after a 2003 survey concluded that it would cost too much to make it disabled friendly.

The club, along with three other 50s clubs, opens once a week every week and offers a lifeline to the pensioners.

Mrs Redfern said: "Their lives would be lost if they did not have this club, it's a life saver for them.

"We are going to fight them any way we can and raise the money ourselves. If necessary we will buy the club off them."

Council bosses have said they will continue to fund the club and the part-time cook for another year.

Burnley Council's Head of Leisure Gerard Vinton said: "The council has for several years supported the luncheon clubs at centres in Middlesex Avenue, Hapton, Cherryfold, Dryden Street, Thursby Gardens, Greenbrook, Vincent Farrell and Rosehill.

"The council has made no decision on ceasing this service, however, members have asked for an up-to-date report on how much it would cost to address any building repairs at Middlesex Avenue and make the building compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act."