9:35am Saturday 30th January 2010
By Melanie Adams
STANDING in darkness, boarded up and on the brink of extinction.
It is hard to believe it was once at the heart of celebrations to welcome home returning heroes from the horrors of the First World War.
Eastleigh is set to lose a piece of its history now that the Comrades Club has gone into liquidation after mounting up debts of more than £160,000.
Since the club was set up in 1922 to offer ex-servicemen a venue to get together, it has become the centre of community life, such as hosting a number of events for the Eastleigh Carnival.
Now the building in Leigh Road could be demolished to make way for new housing.
The club’s fate was sealed after losing out against competition from bars and clubs, coupled with a diminishing trade from its 450 members.
With the debts rising, members had no choice but to make the difficult decision to go into liquidation and use the sale of the freehold building to pay off its creditors.
Its prime location in the centre of town and its development potential is expected to catch the eye of developers, eager to use the site for its maximum financial gain.
Former Eastleigh councillor and a member of the club for 50 years, Bill Luffman, said: “It is sad to see it go but we have to be realistic and make sure that we get the best deal for our members.
“The site has potential to be developed into flats so I am sure someone with an eye for land will be very interested in the site.”
Bev Hallwood, who has been a member for more than ten years, added: “Eastleigh is losing a piece of its history. It’s really sad to see the club close after so many years of being at the heart of the town.
“Unfortunately it seems Eastleigh is slowly losing all the places that many of us hold close to our heart, places that have given this town its character over the years.”
Joint liquidator Carl Faulds, of Portland Business and Financial Solutions, said that once the building is sold there is no doubt that all the creditors will be paid, it is just a case of getting the maximum price to ensure members get the best possible outcome.
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