COMMITTEE members at a closure-threatened club say it's still business as usual despite uncertainty about the future.

The Argus has led a campaign to save Llanwern Sports and Social Club since Corus announced plans to close it and sell the site for redevelopment.

The club's committee has always insisted it could run the club and that it has a viable future.

Backing for the fight has come from leading figures - including Prince Charles - as well as hundreds of members of the public, and messages of support continue to arrive at our offices.

It is more than a year since Corus announced it was going to close the club but it has yet to serve a statutory six months' notice or give any timescale for closure. "We are just carrying on business as normal," said club secretary Robert Marchant. "But things have got to be done in the club and we don't know what to do.

"We need new chairs and I have ordered them. They cost £1,000 and there's no problem paying for them but what if we buy them and then they tell us we are shutting in six months?"

He said Corus had not discussed any details with the committee and did not send a representative to their recent AGM.

Mr Marchant has also hit back at comments by Newport East MP Alan Howarth last month that the club had not put forward any proposals. He also said actual usage of the club was "quite small".

Mr Marchant said the committee had submitted a business plan to Corus several months ago but the company had still not responded to a request to discuss their proposition.

He added that the club was busy and well-used, saying just this weekend 800 youngsters had been expected to take part in a football tournament in the grounds.

Llanwern Sports and Social Club is home to many local sports sides and also hosts a variety of functions for the community.

A Corus spokesman recently said the situation regarding the club was unchanged. Although notice had not been served it was still intended to close the site.