FEARS have been raised about the long term future of a club which serves the pensioners of South Oxhey.

The Clitheroe Club is a popular meeting place for many elderly people in South Oxhey and hosts regular coffee mornings and bingo sessions.

However, Three Rivers District Council voted last week to shut the club's current premises in Clitheroe Gardens.

The Lib Dem administration argues the club's building is fraught with structural problems and that new premises need to be found.

A date has not been set for the closure, however the council will investigate alternative venues for the club.

Ann Shaw, leader of the council, said: "Essentially the existing building has no long term future. It is unacceptable in its current state.

"We've been talking to the Methodist church next door to see whether it's possible to do a joint project and perhaps come up with a plan for a building which both groups could use."

Councillor Shaw said it was important to act before the building's structural issues meant it was unable to be used at all.

She also noted several bungalows near the club, built in the same era, were currently vacant because they were in such a state of disrepair.

However district councillor for the South Oxhey ward Kerron Cross said the plan would undermine the good work of the club.

The Labour councillor said in discussions about the club's future three years ago, the council had stated its desire to come up with a more "appropriately sized" building.

He said: "The club currently holds about 80 people but the revised plans would cut the size to around 50. This would mean weekly events such as bingo would not be able to take place in their current form.

"This plan means two community facilities would be merged into one smaller one. This will impact on the most vulnerable members of the community."

Harry Andrews, 81, visits the club several times a week and admitted he was worried about its future.

He said: "The building has been terribly neglected over the years. If they are going to knock it down and building something new where will they build it? Most people who use it live nearby and have difficulties with transport."

At the time of going to press a representative from the Carpenders Park and South Oxhey Methodist Church was unavailable to comment on the merger proposal.