Concerns voiced for future of east Antrim’s social clubs

Mr Stewart said: “I have been in contact with local golf clubs, bowling clubs, pigeon clubs, junior football clubs and many other sports and social clubs who have a heavy reliance on their bar facilities to survive.

“They have had to close their premises over the past months of restrictions and have had little or no financial help to get them through to the other side of this pandemic.

“They are such an important part of our social fabric, playing a vital role in both physical and mental health, run, in the most part by dedicated volunteers, but are businesses none the less. Therefore, they should be entitled to at least some level of support.

“Many clubs have either been turned down or have still to receive a decision on their LRSS application.”

He added: “I have brought this inequity up in correspondence to Ministers, questions on committee and on the floor of the Assembly and the impression is that the Executive do not have a joined up approach on this.

“It seems that belatedly it was decided that sports clubs could not get the LRSS- the rates based grant brought in for the second lockdown. At the same time the scheme to support what are known as ‘wet’ pubs do not apply to sports and social clubs.

“I am not crying wolf when I say that without a rethink on eligibility, many clubs in east Antrim will not be able to open their doors again when we get to the other side of lockdown.”

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Last month it was reported that closed pubs which do not serve food will receive more than £10 million support for the lost summer months.

For more on this story, read here

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