Fate of Midland Red social club in Shrewsbury debated

A special general meeting will be held in the near future to wind up the Midland Red Sport and Social Club, which was based behind the former bus depot in Ditherington and at its height catered for a combined 200 members with Club 1986, which shared the building.

A date for the meeting has not been made public, but officials at the club have urged members to provide their details by May 20 to retain any rights in the event of the club's dissolution.

The building, alongside the Arriva Midlands bus depot, was demolished in September last year to make way for the multi-million pound redevelopment of Ditherington's historic Flax Mill. Social club officials moved out of their headquarters on the site in August last year and have decided to wind the club up after attempts to find new premises were unsuccessful.

A new £2.5 million bus depot opened in Battlefield in July last year to replace the Ditherington depot. Shropshire Council bought the Midland Red site for £2.3 million two years ago to pave the way for the Flax Mill redevelopment after four years of negotiations.

The Midland Red club was set up 50 years ago and its building was regularly used for ballroom dancing events, bingo evenings and dominos for members, who ranged in age from 18 to 92.

At the time of the demolition Councillor Alan Mosley, who represents the Castlefields and Ditherington ward, said "Some of the early options looked at the possibility of the club being incorporated into the main Flax Mill development but this proved not to be possible. We did try to find a new premises but this was just not possible in terms of cost and practicality."

Members of the Midland Red Social Club are urged to write to Paul Harding, Burton Sweet Corporate Recovery, Suite 1, Canon Court East, Abbey Lawn, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury SY2 5DE. Alternatively e-mail paul.harding @bscorprecovery.co.uk