REGULARS at a local club are gearing up for a legal fight with the owners of the building in a bid to save it.
Committee members at Ward Green Working Men's Club are gearing up for the latest round of their legal fight with Sam Smith's Brewery which owns the building and they are appealing to local people to help them secure the future of what is described as a "valuable community asset".
First shots in the dispute were fired back in 2002 when the committee took the brewery to court after Smith's sold the building to a property developer.
Back then a judge ruled that the committee should be offered the right to buy and overturned the sale. But wasn't until 18 months ago, when the brewery served a notice to quit, that the committee decided to exercise that right.
A valuation taken out by a local firm valued the building on Mount Vernon Road at between £70,000 and £80,000. But a valuer employed by Sam Smith's says it's worth £300,000.
The committee is now preparing to go back to court and let a judge decide which valuation is nearer.
in the meantime the committee is asking the 375 members to buy shares in the club being offered at £50 each.
The Chronicle contacted Sam Smith's but no one at the brewery was prepared to comment.
** The full story is in the Barnsley Chronicle, dated September 26. **
