IT could be the end of the line for Newton Abbot Post Office Sports and Social Club if the latest plans for Asda's £25 million Wolborough Street redevelopment gets the nod from planners.

The club, and the Royal Mail sorting office in Highweek Street, would be flattened and the likelihood is that the sorting office would relocate to the town's Brunel Road Industrial Estate.

But officers and members of the club are angry they have been kept in the dark, and that attempts to meet Royal Mail representatives to find out what is happening have been ignored.

Bill Baty, the club's entertainments secretary, said the first they knew about it was at the end of last week.

'I went along to the scheme's exhibition and it was clear Asda was going to bulldoze over us.

'In the previous set of plans we were saved, but now that has changed. I spoke with Simon Hoare, of Community Connect, the public relations officer for developer ASM, and he apologised because he didn't even know we existed.'

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'He said they dealt with the post office, who are our landlords, and that the buildings would be flattened by late spring-early summer, and they were hoping the council would consider the plans before Christmas,' said Mr Baty.

He said he had no problem with the development, which would tidy up the area, but the club had not been told and had not been given an alternative option or a chance to negotiate.

Club president Ted McKay said the post office had not said a word and had denied knowledge of anything happening.

'Yet a month ago members of a demolition firm were here measuring up for an estimate and said the building would be gone by January.

'We asked the post office what was happening and were told there was nothing in the wind whatever and said they knew nothing about it,' said Mr McKay.

'To say the least we are a bit aggrieved that we have not been told because whenever we have asked it has always been denied.'

The non-profit making club would not have sufficient funds to buy a property of its own and if it continues it would have to rent a building, but first would have to find one.

With Mr Baty and secretary June Pike, Mr McKay said they wanted to negotiate with the post office, ASM and Teignbridge Council, to help it relocate.

Mr McKay said that as far as he knew, the post office had to give six months' notice on the club, though six months was not very long to sort something else out.

Opened in April 1976, the club's official opening was by Jack Sunderland on June 6 that year. It now has 120 postal staff members, BT members and 500 associates on its books.

A venue where families can take their children, it has nine skittle teams playing in the Newton Abbot and District League, darts and euchre sides.

It stages regular Saturday events and is renowned for its charity fundraising, bringing in thousands of pounds for good causes. Last weekend a quiz and disco raised £220 for Children in Need.

If the club did go, it would leave another void in the Newton Abbot area's social club scene – recent years have seen East Park, the Liberal club, the Police club and the RAOB club all go, as well as Kingsteignton's WBB Abbrook and Homers Lane.

This week a letter informed club staff that there had been initial talks between the post office and ASM, but no decision had been taken.

Royal Mail press officer Don Veale said: 'There has been an expression of interest regarding this property and we are waiting to see what the planners and our own property people have to say about any proposals for the property in Highweek Street.

'This is all at a very early stage and to make any further comment would be premature.'