Bowling clubs fear for future as council seeks to cut more costs

Rotherham Council has drawn up plans to stop the maintenance of eight bowling greens in April this year and eight more in the next financial year, to save £80,000 over the next two years.

The proposals, which were drawn up after a “strategic review” in December last year, would cut the number of crown green bowling greens that the authority maintains from 34 to 18.

A draft report made public by the council said that the authority had not consulted either bowling clubs or parish councils over the plans and added: “In order to deliver the required budget savings within the necessary timescales there are no proposals to carry out consultation in relation to the chosen sites.”

However, a council spokesman said yesterday that a public consultation would now be carried out before any decisions are made about any changes.

Yesterday, representatives from two of the bowling clubs set to lose council maintenance for a green in April said they knew nothing of the plans, and the expense of maintaining their own greens may force the clubs to close.

The plans for April include stopping the maintenance of two greens at Barbers Avenue in Rawmarsh, one green at Barkers Park, one green at Boston Park, one green at Wath Park, one green at Greasbrough Park and a green at Bradgate Park.

Brenda Cotterhill, secretary of Boston Park Bowling Club, said: “They might as well close us down altogether. We only have the one green and the council come and mow the lawn twice a week.

“We can’t play bowls if the grass isn’t kept well. There’s one or two of our men who are quite capable of cutting the grass, but we haven’t got the equipment.

“You can’t use an ordinary lawnmower to mow a bowling green, you’ve got to have a larger, industrial mower and they’re very expensive.”

Stuart Woodward, secretary of the Rotherham Royal Mail Bowls Club which plays at Barkers Park, added: “There’s no way we can afford to maintain a green ourselves, so we’d probably have to go to another park. I don’t agree with all these cutbacks.”

The draft report, which was removed from the Rotherham Council website yesterday, said that maintenance will also cease at some greens operated by parish councils and the Coalfields Industry Social Welfare Organisation.

It adds that the changes are likely to be unpopular, and says: “There is likely to be a public concern at losing bowling greens as many greens historically have teams associated with them and, for a small number of residents, they form a social hub.

“There is likely to be a transfer of players to the greens that remain open, which may put pressure on some greens and the current users.”

A Rotherham Council spokesman said: “This is only the start of the process of consultation regarding bowling greens.

“The consultation will allow Rotherham Council to begin talks with various organisations with the possibility of them taking over the maintenance of the facilities.

“Rotherham has a long and proud association with bowling. Unfortunately, however, due to government cuts, we have had to take a serious look at our ability to maintain all 34 greens located across the borough.

“All greens in the borough have been taken into consideration to help identify where maintenance could be stopped, whilst ensuring a good geographical spread of facilities, ensuring, as much as possible, that the greens get both maximum use and that bowlers still have access to them.

“Consultation will also take place with a number of parish councils and other organisations to see if they can assist in the upkeep of the greens and ensure that the sport can continue in the borough for the foreseeable future.”