A CLUB has been allowed to keep its licence after police found young drinkers inside.

But committee members responsible for running Meltham Conservative Club have been warned they now have to stick to a set of strict conditions.

Kirklees Council’s Licensing Panel were asked to review the Station Street club’s licence. The move came after police visited the venue on the evening of January 22 and found it to be in breach of its club certificate conditions.

The licence states that only members and their guests are allowed on to the premises to drink alcohol.

Richard Woodhead, a police licensing officer, told councillors: “The police found that the club was open and that alcohol was being served to members and non-members without checks being made by bar staff. There was a large group of young people in the club who were not members and no age checks were being carried out.

“Because non-members who were not guests were purchasing alcohol these sales were unauthorised under the Licensing Act 2003 and therefore illegal.”

Police found the guest signing in book suggested only three were admitted to the club in a 13-month period and they noted non-members were consuming alcohol outside contrary to the club certificate.

Councillors heard that the club’s committee received a police caution in 2006 after failing a Trading Standards test purchase by a child aged under 18.

The committee agreed to put measures in place to prevent further offences.

Police later issued a list of eight conditions that the club had to abide by to keep its licence. These include an entry system designed to prevent members of the public from gaining access, a guest register available for inspection and a rota system to ensure a club official is on the premises.

All bar staff have to receive regular training on alcohol sales and a CCTV system installed and maintained.

The panel heard that the committee has been complying with all the conditions set.

They reported that the signing in book was now half full and the fob entry system to the club just need to be repaired.

Police said they were happy that the licence conditions were being complied with.

Councillors granted a renewal of the club’s premises certificate. They said this was subject to the conditions set out and keeping a record of sales refusals.

Club secretary Petrena Hirst told the Examiner: “We have done everything that has been asked of us and the system is working well.

“Everybody has got on board with it and realised you have to be a member or signed in to get into the club.”