TWO warring clubs have been ordered to resolve a dispute over shared facilities... after their argument was likened to the Jeremy Kyle Show.

The miners' welfare club and bowling club in Macmerry are at loggerheads over the provision of a bar in the pavilion they both use.

Now they have both applied for a licence to operate the bar, with the bowlers claiming the miners – who have been operating the bar under occasional licences – failed to open it for any bowling matches this season, stripped the bar of all stock and equipment, including optics, and forced them to serve drinks from a makeshift bar in the changing rooms.

East Lothian Licensing Board this week heard claims by the bowlers that an agreement brokered in 2014 by council leader Willie Innes and council officials saw the bowling club agree to take on the lease of the council-owned pavilion itself, and the miners agree to take on the licence to sell alcohol in the premises.

However, the bowlers claimed the miners' welfare club stalled over the drinks licence, only applying for occasional licences for specific events and leaving them often without a bar.

Their lawyer, Steve McGowan, told board members: "The bowlers are at their wits' end and have been frustrated by the failure of the miners to apply for a permanent licence for the bar and provide it.

"It has been an embarrassment to them when other clubs visit and they cannot offer drinks, an expected social part of the visits.

"There is a loss of trust now between the two clubs."

Rudi Fruzynski, licensing standards officer for East Lothian Council, told the board that the bowling club in the village held the lease of the pavilion and green 30 years ago but it was taken over by the miners' welfare club and the bowlers became a subsection of the miners' group.

In October 2013, the bowlers, who were at that time licence holders for the bar, broke away from the miners' welfare club, leading to what he described as "considerable discontent" between the two parties.

Mr Fruzynski said: "The bowlers were locked out and could not use the pavilion for bowling purposes or use the bar licence they held."

He said that Councillor Innes and Councillor Jim Gillies were involved in negotiating an agreement between the two clubs.

However, he added: "The miners welfare were required, under their terms of agreement, to apply for a premises licence and did not do so until August 2016, and have not therefore been granted a licence to occupy the bar.

"They have, however, applied for occasional licences, but the bowlers have not been happy with the arrangements, indicating that there have been a number of periods they asked for a bar but it was not provided or the required times of bar opening were not met."

The miners applied for a permanent licence to serve alcohol in the bar in August, followed days later by the bowlers also applying for the licence.

At a meeting of the licensing board, member Councillor Stuart Currie asked the lawyers for both clubs if there was any chance of the groups reconciling, describing it as "descending into Jeremy Kyle" in reference to the controversial talk show.

With the agreement of the lawyers, Councillor Jim Goodfellow, convenor of the licensing board, deferred a decision on the licence for one month, urging the two parties to reach an agreement between themselves.

He told them: "We feel this could be sorted out outwith the board.

"The board cannot give both licences, it can only give one. Hopefully it can be resolved."