A FLOOD-HIT working men’s club says it may be forced to close after almost 100 years, after a planning application to build storage above ground level was refused.

Baildon Woodbottom Working Men’s Club, off Otley Road at Baildon Bridge, near the River Aire, fell victim to the Boxing Day 2015 floods, with water reaching the tops of its pool tables.

Club officials said the damage cost an estimated £230,000, and left the club closed until June 2016.

The club, which is due to celebrate its 100th year in 2020, used the refurbishment to modernise its facilities and protect the building from future floods. It also suffered flood damage in 2000.

Bosses had applied to Bradford Council for an extension to be built at the rear of the club on a fenced-off area currently used as a car park, with ground-level storage and toilets. The extension would have allowed the club to stop using its cellar, to protect stock from any future flooding.

But the plans were refused by the local authority – due to flood risk.

Now club bosses are appealing against the decision, but fear for the club’s future if the appeal fails.

The Council’s letter of refusal states: “The Environment Agency advises that it is within a flood storage area, and the footprint and volume of the extension would cause displacement of flood waters.”

It also states the application did not include a flood risk assessment, and the Council said there was no evidence that the proposed development would not increase the risk of flooding to other properties. It said this could cause an increased risk to both property and public safety.

Philip Moncaster, club secretary, who submitted his appeal against the decision yesterday, said: “I’m disappointed with the decision.

“Refusing this may be the end of the club. If we can’t get the cellar moved, we will have to shut.

“We are not prepared to spend £700 to provide a flood risk assessment on what we already know, that we suffer from floods.

“We can’t afford to lose stock at the rate we did last year.

“We lost £10,000 worth of stock in the big flood of 2015. We want the cellar at ground floor level.”

The club won a wrangle with an insurance company over a flood damage claim earlier this year. The refurbishment was paid for by the club’s insurance company, NIG Insurance. But staff had become frustrated at £23,000 – consisting of £19,000 in irrecoverable VAT and £4,000 for wines, spirits and tobacco – still being owed to them. The total sum was eventually paid to the club in July.