Plans to split club in half to ensure its future

Clipstone Miners’ Welfare trustees are looking at the possibility of turning one half of the club into an indoor sports facility with bar and function room, and leasing out the other side to the parish council to use for such things as a library or community space.

They are currently in the process of putting together business plans before having a feasibility report.

Newark and Sherwood MP Mark Spencer said: “I went to Clipstone Miners’ Welfare. I know that they have been taking advice from CISWO about how to make sure that it can stay open long-term.

“We spoke about the plans that they have and I’m looking forward to seeing how they are put into action.”

Welfare Club Trustee and Clipstone Parish councillor Richard Clarey said: “The parish council is looking at making the club into a multi-use facility.

“The library is currently open five and a half hours a week which is down to staffing issues. If it was being run by the parish council there would be staff there and the option of keeping it open longer.

“There is a local need for a sports hall as there is a shortfall of indoor sporting and training areas .

“Garibaldi College has one but it is booked up all the time.

When the miners welfare was first built there were 1,200 people engaged with it who all lived in the local area and it had the footfall.

We don’t have those numbers now and people are more mobile, there is not the same financial situation - we need to downsize.

The club is still well used is the bowls club, football teams, cricket and the youth club all operating under the welfare banner.

The club is also used by the British Legion, Sherwood Junior Brass band and the TTT Dance School.