A CONTROVERSIAL club has closed following allegations that drug-dealing and under-age drinking have taken place on the premises.

Council chiefs had been due to meet this week to consider a plea from the police to strip the Fordingbridge Club of its licence.

But the meeting was cancelled after the licence was handed in by Joanne Timmins following her decision to resign as the designated premises supervisor.

Fordingbridge is rife with rumours that the building will now be sold, possibly for redevelopment.

In 2008 the venue was linked to the death of Shaun Wells, 24, of Whitsbury Road, Fordingbridge, who was found dead in bed.

A police investigation revealed that he had collapsed the night before after drinking heavily and taking drugs he had obtained at the club. His death is one of several incidents mentioned in a 98-page report that would have been debated by the district council’s licensing sub-committee had the club not surrendered its licence.

As reported in the Daily Echo, the report includes allegations that a drunken barman served people who were under-age.

It says: “An informant stated that a member of staff was drunk behind the bar, serving under-age males without asking for any identification and was frequently leaving the bar unattended, so the youths were serving themselves.”

The report also says that officers visited the club in May last year following complaints that a customer had turned violent. It states: “The informant (who was a member of staff) was drunk. He smelt of intoxicating liquor, was unsteady on his feet and his speech was slurred.”

Ms Timmins took over in April 2008 – three months after the death of Mr Wells.

Speaking last month she said “harassment” from the police was one of the reasons why she had resigned as the supervisor.

She added: “Since I took over four years ago there have been no drug raids and no