ONE of Haslemere's oldest clubs could be faced with closure if its gaming machines are banned by a government review body.

Secretary of the Haslemere and District Comrades Club Gwynn Williams says moves to ban gaming machines with a maximum payout of £250 could force the club into extinction.

He told The Herald that the private members' club, which has a membership of around 500, generates around £45,000 a year from the machines and would be seriously affected by the loss of this revenue.

But a government review body has proposed the ban to combat the problem of underage gambling.

It fears that too many youngsters are using the machines and is considering a move to replace them with pub-style games with a smaller maximum jackpot.

Mr Williams said anyone that joins the club, which has operated as a social club in the High Street since 1886, must be over 18, and says the body's claims are "totally rubbish".

He said: "I have been secretary for 10 years and our rules are quite clear in that an individual may not be put forward for membership until they attain the age of 18."

He also pointed out that clubs would not risk their position within the licensing laws by disobeying this rule.

Mr Williams said: "Because of the amount of money that is generated by our two gaming machines, on average about £45,000 a year, we can do nothing other than to oppose these measures that are proposed.

"There is no doubt that, from our isolated point of view, life without the gaming machines would be very difficult, if not impossible to continue, and after over 100 years we would have to call it a day."

He added: "We are in fact one of the longest serving businesses still in its original location in the High Street.

"We are at present having to compete with JD Wetherspoon's next door and will no doubt have to compete with the newly refurbished White Horse Hotel in two or three months' time.

"The possible loss of gaming machine revenue in the foreseeable future will put us in an impossible position against these larger concerns."

The gambling review has been put together by a department of the Home Office and comments are now being received from clubs, pubs and interested parties.

It states: "We have found the issue of gaming machines to be one of the most difficult we have tackled.

"The current system is incoherent and full of anomalies. In addition, the policy issues, concerning both children and adults, have provoked a range of responses among our members and those who have submitted evidence to us."

It continues: "We do not pretend that limiting the prizes and stakes in this way would necessarily make the machines any less addictive, but we believe that this would be a pragmatic solution and would limit the potential harm.

"Freezing the stake would mean that, in time, these machines genuinely become little more than amusement machines."

Mr Williams said that an all-male private members club, with its constitution drafted just after the first world war, may seem "odd and out of date". But he believes the club still has its place in the local community.

"The Comrades is a safe haven for our members and their guests to enjoy a drink and take part in healthy discussion on the problems of the day and to also enjoy the facilities of the club.

"It has been for many years and I hope that it can continue for many years to come.

"We are just a club on our own, but if these proposals go ahead there will be hundreds of clubs up and down the country that will suddenly see the carpet being pulled from beneath their feet."

Mr Williams intends to rally support for his protest from the club's members and will approach MP for South West Surrey Virginia Bottomley.