Two ex-servicemens' charities are worried for their future, following news that Diss' Grasmere Club could be in line for redevelopment.
The Royal British Legion and Royal Air Forces Association fear they will be homeless next year after receiving a letter from the club, saying it will be sold for housing development by December 2009.
The organisations have met monthly free-of-char
ge at the Grasmere Club since the building was opened in January 1967 by local landowner, the late Sir John Mann.
They believe Sir John donated the land to the Conservative Association on the understanding that the premises would always be available for use by ex-service groups free-of-charge.
Rev Reg Dakin, vice-chairman of the RBL Diss and District branch, said: "I understand there are plans for a redevelopment to build 27 flats on the site and they are at the stage of architect's plans, so they seem pretty certain about it.
"We understand that originally Sir John made a stipulation that ex-servicemen's clubs should have the facility of meeting at the premises for no fee. We are trying to look for old records to see if there is anything in writing."
Rev Dakin said the loss of its free use would be a blow to the branch. "We had been trying to forge closer links with the Grasmere Club so that we could use the facilities for other things but this cuts right across the whole thing."
But South Norfolk Conservative leader John Fuller denied there were plans to sell Grasmere for housing development but that its future was subject to professional advice, which is being sought ahead of the expiry of the building's lease next year.
He said: "The association knows the end of the lease is coming up and it has done for years.
"It would be odd if the trustees didn't take professional advice with only 12 months to go."
Rev Dakin said the RBL branch would have to find a village or church hall if they lost the use of Grasmere.
"It looks pretty bleak at the moment. But hopefully something will come along."
The Diss branch of RAFA is in the same position and spokesman Brian Ager said: "If we were to lose a free venue, we would then have to spend money hiring somewhere else – that would mean less money would go to welfare providing practical advice to ex-servicemen."
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The full article contains 421 words and appears in Diss Express newspaper.
