Legion club is told to close

The club, in Arwenack Street, was closed after police passed on evidence to Carrick district council which suggested that it been operating outside of the restrictions of its licence for several years.

Police licensing officer Sue Edwards explained that the club was for members only and was run by a committee and therefore did not have a licensee like a pub would.

She said: "The club is for members and their bona fide guests. No one person can make a profit from the club and they are run by very tight constraints of the Licensing Act 2003. Unfortunately the Falmouth Royal British Legion was not being run in this way."

She added that the police had been called to several incidents of disorder at the club and when the police investigated they discovered that the people involved were not members and had not been signed in as guests.

"We have received complaints from genuine members who had become too concerned to use the premises. This has been going on for some time and we have been attempting to get the club to operate properly for a number of years. We passed on this evidence to Carrick and they withdrew the licence and closed the club with immediate effect."

A statement issued by Carrick district council said: "Certificates are issued under the Licensing Act 2003 to clubs that meet the qualifying conditions for a club under that Act, in order that alcohol may be supplied and regulated entertainment may be provided to club members and their guests.

"Information relating to the operation of the club has been provided to the council by the Police which indicates that the club is no longer a qualifying club.

"The Licensing Authority is required, when a club no longer qualifies, to give notice to the club withdrawing the certificate. The club has been advised of its right of appeal against the decision."

On Monday there was a notice on the door of the club which said: "The Falmouth Royal British Legion has called a special meeting on October 18 at 7.30pm. This is to discuss the implications with regards the closure of the Royal British Legion Club Ltd. The branch will be open for membership renewals and branch business from 9am to 3pm daily."

Andrew Riggall, chairman of the committee which runs the club, said: "I have been advised by the county office that I should not give a statement at this point as there may be an appeal."

The Royal British Legion county office in Truro did issue a statement confirming that the club had been closed. It said: "The RBL club at Falmouth had failed to comply with conditions of the club premises certificate issued by Carrick and as a consequence this authority to trade under the 2003 Licensing Act was withdrawn, resulting in the club's immediate closure.

"The club has three weeks to appeal this decision. If no appeal is lodged or if the appeal is unsuccessful, its licence to trade as a Royal British Legion Club may be withdrawn.

"Legion clubs are independent, not-for-profit, registered private members societies which are not part of the charity but which must be run in accordance with the law, the registered rules of the club and the conditions of the licence under which the club uses the name of the Royal British Legion in its title. The club must also comply with a tenancy agreement where the club operates in the property owned by the charity."

If the club does apply for a new licence the police licensing officer will look at the application and can attach any conditions which they see fit to make sure the club sticks to the restrictions of the licence.

Inspector Dave Scott at Falmouth Police Station dismissed rumours that the club had been raided and that there was any suggestion of drugs or underage drinking involved.

He said: "We simply passed on evidence that the club was not being run in accordance with the restrictions of its licence."

He added that the police would not be taking any further action as he felt that what Carrick had done - taking their licence away - was sufficient.