"....So, churches, village halls, charity shops and sports clubs across the United Kingdom face a new £20 million levy. New regulations by Lord Mandelson's Whitehall empire are to abolish charities[ch8217] and voluntary groups[ch8217] long-standing exemption from paying music licensing fees [ch8211] hitting them with unexpected new bills just for holding events with recorded music or for playing a radio....
...Lord Mandelson[ch8217]s department admits that the new levies will cost voluntary groups up to £20 million a year. Some organisations will 'cease playing music' because they cannot afford a licence, and it will hit a quarter of a million organisations [ch8211] 140,000 charities, 6,750 charity shops, 66,440 sports clubs, 4,000 community buildings, 5,000 rural halls and 45,000 religious buildings."
http://archbishop-cranmer.blogspot.com/2010/03/church-commisioner-mandelson.html
What is it about the British way of life that these people hate so much that they're hell-bent on destroying it? They came for your pub, they came for your local post office and, from 10th April, they will have their sights set on the hub of the village...the village hall. 
I'm glad I don't live in a village, myself. I'd be getting a bit upset now. 
Lord Fondlebum, again, though. What do you expect?
First they came for the Pub
But i didn't speak out because i wasn't a drinker
Next they came for the Post office
But I didn't speak out because I wasn't a letter writer
Next they came for the Village hall
But I didn't speak out because I live in a large conurbation
next they came for me
And there was no one left to speak out .
FFS !!! I'm surprised that village hall discos still exhist what with all the H&S,insurance coverage against some numpty tripping over the step or slipping on some spilt orange juice,fire,police and a more than 2 person gathering licence or however much bloody form filling is required.have you seen how much you have to fill in now for your kid to have a day out with the school.
I guess theres nowt more pressing for them to be worried about right now what with the country being in such marvellous condition.
Oooooh!!! and the Budget to look forward to.