A NEW era is on the horizon for the Trades and Social Club after proposals were put forward to redesign its building.

Members of the club in Queens Road have voted in favour of plans to knock down part of the club's current premises and build a smaller two-storey club in its place.

The redevelopment will also see 15 apartments put up on some of the land currently owned by the club. The club will remain lease holders on these apartments.

Fred Edwards, 61, the club secretary, said the decision was made because their current facility was coming to the end of its shelf-life.

He said: "It would take so much money to get it back up to scratch that that we decided to offer it to developers. They have agreed to build the new club for us."

The club has steadily seen membership decrease from a high of around 2,000 down to 400, but Mr Edwards hopes the new building will bring new interest.

He said: "It is like everywhere else. People's drinking habits are changing.

"We are hoping that the new club will attract new members. I can't see it not being beneficial."

Jim Bird, 80, the club bookkeeper, said: "You have to move with the time and this change was seen to be for the best.

"It is for economic purposes. We have been thinking about it for about 12 months. We interviewed various builders and we have now got to the stage of planning permission."

The new club will include an upstairs concert room, something the current club building is lacking.

Mr Bird said: "The club will be smaller but the upstairs concert room will make a difference. At the minute we only have the one room so, with the smaller membership, this will be better."

The club is owned by its members, who each have their own share and say in the running of the club.

Mr Bird said: "We had called lots of meetings to see what they wanted to do.

"The members are in favour and everyone is looking forward to seeing the new building."

If planning permission is granted, members hope construction work will begin by the start of May.