A group of 25 residents met yesterday to protest against the venue’s use of the door, which opens onto a primary school and playground.

Protest organiser Mary Reid said she wants the club’s owners, Maryborough Highland Society, to keep the door strictly as an emergency exit.

“It’s encouraging more people in off the street to use the poker machines,” she said.

“We are concerned people are entering from the nearby libraries, playgrounds and supermarkets.”

But Maryborough Highland Society General Manager Malcolm Blandthorn said the entrance wasn’t being used to draw people to its poker machines.

“The door is our main public entrance, which is easier for a lot of the elderly patrons because it’s next to the carpark,” he said.

“There’s no signs out the front saying there are pokies and when you look from the outside all you can see is the hallway and not the pokie machines.”

Mr Blandphorn said the venue had taken a responsible approach to looking after its members.

“I understand they’re worried about kids going in there unattended, but we would not let that happen.”

Maryborough Highland Society said they had also helped subsidise the Bowling Club to keep it open.

“It’s a club that had gone into receivership and been closed in the past,” Mr Blandphorn said.

“It’s not economically profitable, and we’ve had to help with subsidies just for the community to continue to use the club.”

Mrs Reid said the concerned residents would also call on the shire council to act in forcing the venue to use the door as an emergency exit.