Elation as Pontypool's ‘Oily Rag’ club wins appeal

The future of the GWRSA (Great Western Railway Staff Association) club in Griffithstown, also known as the ‘Oily Rag’, looked bleak after questions were raised about its noise levels.

The chairwoman of the club’s committee, Julie Blake, said a noise complaint was made to Torfaen council by a neighbour last year.

The council wanted to revoke the club’s licence for three months, which its members said would have led to the club closing.

The committee appealed the decision at Abergavenny Magistrates Court on Monday and appointed their an independent noise nuisance engineer, who told the hearing there was potential to soundproof the building.

Ms Blake said the court agreed for the licence to remain in place once the required soundproofing the building was carried out.

She said: “Everyone’s elated and absolutely delighted that the community hasn’t lost its meeting place and that the club is viable to continue indefinitely. I just hope all our members will come back and support the club.”

She said the club can trade as normal while the work is taking place and will be able to return to its former licensing hours of playing live music till 11.30pm and recorded music until 12pm on a Saturday night once the work is finished.

Ms Blake said: “All live music has to go off at 11pm at the moment. She said the club has met the council’’s requirements of appointing a sound engineer, having a noise limiter and will now get the work done. She said: “Nothing can start until we get the money to do it.”

Ms Blake said the club will now organise fundraising to pay for it and encouraged donations.

She said if the committee had not won its licence appeal the club would have closed.

She said: “Saturday nights pay for the club to keep running for the rest of the week.

The recession hit us big time but that kept it ticking over.”

The club was built in 1873 as a mechanics’ institute and was used by local railway workers.