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MANY of Bolton's clubs are going through a difficult time - but a group is on hand which is trying to tackle some important issues facing the industry.

The Bolton and District Secretaries Association has about 30 members drawn from some of the 100-plus clubs dotted around the wider Bolton area.

They are appealing for more clubs to join the association, which liaises with licensing magistrates and police and discusses health and safety matters, among many other issues.

Chairman Jim Hickey, who is club operations manager of Horwich RMI, said: "The benefits of the £20 annual membership fee is that members are kept abreast of what's happening in several areas which affect their businesses.

"For instance, we discuss and give out information on licensing issues, the soaring cost of utility bills, policing and club membership issues.

"W e also look at environmental issues, such as the smoking ban, the impact of food legislation, gaming laws affecting fruit machines and anything else that affects the club trade."

Jim has been association chairman for 10 years, but paid tribute to longserving secretary Derek Hamer.

He said: "The association wouldn't be what it is without Derek, who books the speakers, writes the minutes and so on.

He works very hard on behalf of the members."

Jim added that the association was non-religious and non-political and concentrated its efforts on keeping members informed about the issues affecting clubs.

"W e want more clubs to join as this will make us stronger and more effective as an association," he said Jim says that to survive in the current climate many clubs are going to have to change the way they operate.

There is currently some confusion and much debate over which is the best type of licence clubs should have.

Under the 2003 Licensing Act, private members' clubs have a club premise licence which allows them to supply alcohol to members - in law this means there is no retail sale as the alcohol supply is replenished for members using the money paid for the drink.

Pubs have a premise licence which allows them to sell alcohol - meaning that a customer is buying alcohol that someone else owns as a retail sale.

Jim says some clubs will have to decide whether to keep their premise licence or apply, as Horwich RMI is doing, for a dual licence, which allows them to operate in both the club and pub worlds.

It will mean having different till "levels"

and databases, but in essence it means private members of Horwich RMI will be able to buy drinks cheaper than any casual drinker under the pub licence.

However, the net effect will hopefully be increased trade for struggling clubs.

Jim added: "Clubs need to change what they do if they want to attract younger people, as you've got to see what they are drinking and what kind of entertainment they want and try to provide that."

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