NEWS - Archive
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16 October 2007 Why The Move? After 15 happy years at the Comrades Club we were sad to be left little choice but to find a new venue - the letters below are self explanatory... Letter from Comrades Club - 2 October 2007 Dear Mr Taylor With regards to our conversation last week with reference to the block booking of the back room for the Folk Club was put in front of the committee. It has been agreed that the room can be hired for £20 per week with the proviso that if there is a important game on Sky that you move upstairs for that week. I am sure that you will understand that it is no longer possible to allow this room to be given free of charge to the Folk Club when we have to charge members to hire this room. The current rate to hire the room is £30 per night but because you use this on a regular basis we are happy to give it at a reduced charge. These terms will be reviewed every 3 months. If you agree to these term could you please sign and return the slip on the base of this letter to confirm the bookings. However if you do not agree to the terms set out above we would ask you to hand in two weeks notice to the club. Yours sincerely D Tye
M Brown Letter from Cramlington Folk Club - 8 October 2007 Dear Sir With reference to your letter dated 2nd October I and the members of the Folk Club (many of whom are also members of the Comrades Club) cannot understand the logic behind the terms of your letter. After 15 years of being involved with the Comrades Club I would have at least expected the common courtesy of some open and frank dialogue. During our time at the Comrades Club we have always had a good and helpful relationship with staff and members and have been willing to help out in many ways and raised the profile of the club both nationally and internationally with the help of our website and publicity. In the 15 years the Folk Club has used the room there has been very few occasions when the room has not been available. On the odd occasion when there has been a problem with the room, usually through repairs to the fabric or staffing problems, the Folk Club has been made welcome at very short notice by the Village Club and have never been charged for the use of their premises. I understand from your letter that you are installing Sky TV and will be screening live football which may be on a Tuesday when the Folk Club would be required to use the room upstairs. You may not be aware the Folk Club book performers up to 12 months in advance and most are contracted and have a cancellation clause which would result in the Folk Club having to pay a fee. To be asked to use the room upstairs, which I am sure you cannot consider an alternative for the backroom as there are not enough seats or space, and also we were recently informed by the steward that it was not safe for a number of people as there is an issue with the strength of the floor. There is no way the Folk Club could consider using this room whatever the occasion. I, and the members of the Folk Club, can only assume that your decision to make a charge for use of the room is a means of getting rid of the Folk Club and not a true commercial one as most Tuesdays the room will be unused which will result in a substantial loss of revenue to the Comrades Club and as such it would have been much better to be honest and above board about the matter. I enclose a copy letter from the previous committee guaranteeing the Folk Club the use of the room. Keith Taylor The opening night at our new venue, the Hind, was a great success. |
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