A GROUP of miners' welfares has lost a court appeal against a decision

to deny them charity rates relief.

Strathclyde Regional Council ruled that the main function of the

welfares in three former Lanarkshire mining villages was for social

clubs.

The welfare and charitable societies at Blantyre, Coalburn, and

Allanton were all refused mandatory rating relief by the local

authority.

The institutions appealed against the council's ruling to the Court of

Session in Edinburgh for a judicial review of the region's decision.

Lord Sutherland said in his judgment in the Coalburn case that it was

''accepted that social drinking was not a charitable activity''.

The society had claimed that, although there were significant bar

activities at its premises, its main purpose was to provide social,

welfare, and leisure activities.

To qualify for the rates relief, the premises had to be wholly or

mainly used for charitable purposes.

The Coalburn welfare was technically a members club but its premises

were open to all the community and it was a focus for village social

activities.

However, Lord Sutherland said in a written judgment: ''I cannot hold

that it was not open to the (council) committee acting in a reasonable

fashion to decide that the main use of the premises was as a social club

and that accordingly the main use was not for charitable purposes.''

The Judge said the welfare had failed to satisfy him that there was

any impropriety in the region's decision and he dismissed the move to

get it overturned.