Community clubs need help after smoking ban

Community clubs need help after smoking ban
I would like to reply to the article "Labour Club receives council cash" (WEP, May 22).
As a local election candidate for Standish ward in the recent local elections, I campaigned for help for the community clubs and pubs in the area.
I did not have taxpayers' money in mind, but intended to put a robust opposition forward opposing the ludicrous blanket smoking ban which is crippling our leisure industry nationwide.
The EU-wide ban is gold plated by UK civil servants but continental countries have acquired opt-outs which allows smokers to smoke in pubs allocated with ceiling ventilation.
Also pubs and clubs have to pay much higher utility bills and beer prices than their continental counterparts and with supermarkets heavily discounting drinks.
All this means of course is that these outlets will not have much cash for repairs and maintenance.
As for ex councillor George Davies allocating taxpayers' cash to help vandalised Standish Labour Club, well I would agree with this if it was not used for political purposes, because I do believe Standish Labour Club is a genuine community asset.
These clubs organise Christmas parties for pensioners and days out at the seaside for the kids.
Whether they are Tory or Labour clubs, politicians should make more noise concerning excessive charging for energy, uneven playing fields in the sale of alcohol and a campaign for proper smoking areas indoors with ventilation.
Alan Freeman, UKIP, Wigan
http://www.wigantoday.net