WALTON Royal British Legion club could be set to abandon its links with the institution and become a private club – to the fury of some members.

The chairman and committee are considering not renewing its legion licence.

They declined to comment to the Gazette, but are to hold a special general meeting for members to discuss the proposed split.

In material advertising the meeting, concerns are raised over “new and unacceptable conditions’’ placed on the club.

One of the conditions is reportedly that the legion will not allow the club to raise money for other Armed Forces’ charities.

However, the breakaway proposal has infuriated some at the Vicarage Lane club.

Member Mary Peck, of Walton Road, Walton, has launched a petition, along with several other members, to fight the move.

She said: “They want to come away from the legion.

“But hundreds of members are part of this club just because it is a legion club.

“I am very angry, and a lot of people are very upset. We have already got more than 80 names on our petition. It is a very important issue.

“It is not just about the legion, it is about someone coming in and taking over this club, which belongs to all of us.’’ She added: “What annoys me as much as anything is that they haven’t told us anything about the alternative to being part of the legion, they just decided not to pay the fees.”

Hugh Phillips, head of clubs at the legion’s head office, said he was not aware of any attempt to separate from the legion, but that he would like to see the club stay on board.

He said: “It is a matter for the members and the committee to decide on.

“It is up to them if they want to remain with the legion. It is not for us to tell them what to do.

“And they have their own premises, so there is no question of taking a building back. But we would clearly wish to encourage them to remain with us.”

The special meeting will take place on Sunday, May 29, at 10.30am For more information ring 01255 674153.