The Numbers up
- By: Tony
- On: 24/07/2010 20:04:37
- In: The Lyric News
- Comments: 0
Saturday Evening 24th July 2010
THE LYRIC CLUB CLOSES FOR BINGO
Sad to say, the days of Bingo in Wellingborough have come to an end. I would like to say thank you to all the staff who have kept the club together over the last three years. Barbi has been there 22 years, so for her this has come as shock, but not unexpected.
The afternoon players have declined to the point that we were not making enough to cover the afternoon costs, and the evening membership was becoming one of FREE BINGO players only. In a ressesion, only the fit survive, our business was sound, but the overheads would soon have got the better of us. The ressession and the attitude of the Government and banks have made me make this decision. The smoking ban, double taxation, high business rates and rent as well as service charges meant we could not go on any longer. Small business has NOT had any help from either the Bank or Government. They lie and lie when they say they are there to keep small business going, but the un written code is to NOT help any business in leisure or retail. I could not continue to pour money down the drain, the result being, 12 people without a job and a community without a bingo hall.
So, from Jo and I, a big thanks to all the staff and members, who have become over the last 20 years, our friends and not just people who work for us. Chris and barbie have had a tough job over the last six months as we have had to tighen our belts. Tough management decisions have had to be made and all the staff as well as the two of us have felt the strain.
So to Chris, Barbi, Andrea, Denise, Lauren, Julie, Susie, Pam, Ashley, Bridget, Tracy, and not least of all Sam, a BIG thankyou for all you have done over the years.
The Wellingborough Bingo Club has been a part of the community for 25 years. We have shared the good times and the sad times, been there for each other and maintained a fantastic community spirit. The last few years we have all pulled together, not once have we had any finacial help or business concessions offered. The British Government has been hell bent on destroying everything and every pleasure the working man has. 13 pubs a week close in the UK, 20 years ago there were 0ver 1500 Bingo halls, now less than 700.
Bingo taxation has been a big cause for concern, as licensed bingo halls have to pay double duty. On line bingo, run offshore, pays NO TAX at all ! So once again, the honest hard working man has become the soft target. I am sure there will come a time when we have a fair Government, one that is for the people, by the people. The rich get richer and the poorest get poorer, with no reason to to go out at night, and no place to go. Life is not all about staying in watching the box, being told what the real world is really like ( Eastenders ! ), I think not. Perhaps more respect should be shown by national as well as local government, towards the people of this country. Millions of pounds thrown away in a war we should not be in, Millions in overseas aid, when we have poverty in our own country and an overstretched National health Service that cant cope.
So our old people have not only lost their bus pass, but now their bingo as well !
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