A SOCIAL Club involved in a land battle with a nationwide housing developer could face closure if its fight for compensation is lost.

Eastleigh Labour Club alleges that Bellway Homes reneged on a promise to buy a piece of their land for housing after building had started. But Bellway has hit back stating that the company owns the land and it has always tried to be good neighbours to the club.

Club treasurer Brian Hatherall claims one and half homes on the company's new Pendle Mill, Butts Street, site are standing on land that belongs to the club, and last week efforts by members to stop the company fencing them off failed. He said: "Bellway bought the Volex land and their plans showed the homes scheme had encroached on to the club's land.

"They said they would buy the piece of land, part of the Volex car park which we shared with that company, for £25,000, but they went back on the deal, after they had started building.

"We were approached about 18 months ago, before the Volex factory was knocked down, and a deal for the sale of our land was negotiated. In the meantime they started digging and then pulled out. We feel it was all a stalling factor to stop us opposing the plans."

"We have deeds which show it is our land and we own the leasehold on it, but they on the other hand claim the land is theirs. The matter is now with solicitors. We are just a little club trying to win a battle against a big company and we'd like to people to know how they are trying to walk all over us. We think it is all wrong.

"We lost our right of way for deliveries and the club, which has 400 members and was founded in 1961, has been badly affected by all this.

"It is totally unfair what has happened to us.

"If we don't get the £25,000 promised to us, with all the solicitors' bills we have accrued trying to stop this company trampling all over us, we could end up closing down and that would be a sad day for the community. We are the home of Eastleigh FC and also have angling and golf clubs and darts and dominoes teams. We also had a bowls team until the green was wrecked by vandals. We are the only club in the Butts Bridge area of Leigh "We have called in Leigh MP Andy Burnham who has met company representatives with us in a bid to help resolve the matter."

A spokesman for Bellway said: "Without question, the land on which the Labour Club stands is subject to a long lease, the freehold of which is owned by Bellway. We are developing on land that is within our title and information confirming this has been forwarded to the club's representatives.

"Indeed, negotiations did take place to purchase additional pieces of land from the club which included two areas, one being the delivery access and the second was the car park. After much deliberation the club decided not to sell the car-park land and due to remediation costs it was felt that the remaining piece of land was just too expensive to develop.

"The right of way for deliveries has not been lost by the club. We rented the space between our two sites for approximately five months and on completion of the rental, agreed with the club to fence off the area giving them keys for emergency access.

"We did attend a meeting with the club committee and Andy Burnham MP, and all subsequent correspondence from Mr Burnham has been responded to immediately.

"From the outset of our development at Pendle Mill, we have endeavoured to be good neighbours to the Eastleigh Labour Club."