MEMBERS of a Gwent social club say they are heartbroken after a last-ditch meeting failed to save it from closure.

The committee of Ebbw Vale's RTB Sports and Social club and adjoining Lever Hall met landowner Corus yesterday for last-ditch talks to try to convince the firm that the 50-year-old club, which stages a range of social and sporting events such as bowls, snooker and pool, could play a role in the future of the site.

The land is earmarked for a £4 million housing development under the Corus Masterplan commissioned by Blaenau Gwent county borough council, the Welsh Development Agency and Corus.

Members were originally told to vacate the premises by the end of April but the deadline was extended to see if a compromise could be reached. And we reported supporting the club's bid to stay at the site in principle.

But following the talks with Corus, Dai Davies, secretary of the club, which has been running at a loss, gave a statement to the Argus last night to confirm the club's closure.

He said: "The committee of the RTB Sports and Social Club has today reluctantly accepted the closure of the club and Lever Hall.

"Prolonged uncertainties over the club's future have had a significant impact on the financial position of the complex over the last year, resulting in an extensive level of debt.

"Attempts by the committee to incorporate the existing club complex into the proposed masterplan for the former Corus site have been unsuccessful."

Corus has offered financial assistance to the committee to develop a "professional exit strategy" by May 26, although the steel company has agreed to allow the bowls section of the club to carry on playing on the site until September when the season finishes.

Mr Davies paid tribute to members and campaigners who have battled for nearly a year to find ways of keeping the club alive.

He said: "This club has played an important role for Ebbw Vale and recent campaigns have demonstrated the strength and determination within our community."

Rob Stephens, 45, from Emlyn Avenue, Ebbw Vale, has been using the club since he was 17. He said: "Everybody is devastated.

"I was employed at the steelworks 28 years, losing that was devastating enough but this last social link - like a home to many - is to go too."