CLUB members have been issued with a 'use it, or lose it' plea.

The call came at the packed annual meeting of the Royal British Legion-affiliated Mill Club in Kingsbridge.

The club in Western Backway, off Fore Street, which is run separately to the Royal British Legion branch, made an £11,400 loss last year, on top a £2,600 deficit the previous year, members were told last week.

Although the loss was covered by reser-ves, members were told the situation couldn't continue long-term.

Outgoing chairman Sam Sloman said: 'Unfortunately, I have to report another disappointing trading year. Not only has the club shown a loss but this has increased significantly on last year's deficit.'

Mr Sloman said there were three main reasons for this. He said: 'There was a drop in takings, which given the current economic climate, is no real surprise. Our utility costs are much higher than the previous year . . . and the wage bill is far too big a percentage of our takings.'

He added: 'We are looking at alternative suppliers to help reduce our utility costs.'

Mr Sloman, who was standing down after three years as chairman, added: 'Finally, to return to profitability, we need to get more "bums on seats". Of a total membership of around 550, approximately only 15 per cent use the club with any regularity.

'We need to find ways of increasing usage as we cannot continue to draw on our reserves.

'Without being a prophet of doom, it really is a case of "use it, or lose it".

Membership secretary Martin Anderson told the Gazette after the meeting that, since the club changed its name to the Mill Club a couple of years ago, there had been 'a marked improvement in interest shown by younger people'. He said the name change reflected the fact people no longer need to have a connection with the armed services.

He added: 'Incoming chairman Kevin Rogers is hopeful that 2012, being the year of the Olympics and Queen's Diamond Jubilee, will show an improvement, with the club being able to put on extra events.

'Newly elected committee members Linda Winfield and Robert Vaughan bring with them a wealth of experience and enthusiasm. Linda, having run her own pub, knows the challenges ahead. Robert, a well-known local man, made it clear that the way forward is to be pro-active in making the club open to all sections of the community. '

He added: 'Memb-ership numbers remain steady, but I would reiterate Sam Sloman's "use it, or lose it" call.

'They all recognise that the future presents its difficulties, but I certainly wish them the best of luck.'

The club, which has a bar, two snooker tables, a darts board, dance floor and function room, is open from 11am-11pm Mondays to Saturdays and noon – 10.30pm on Sundays. Membership of the club and RBL branch costs £16 per year, of which £12 goes to the charity. It entitles members to visit any RBL-affiliated club in the country.