Nottingham Post

Bowls club members’ efforts are ‘wiped out in one fell swoop’

FORCED TO CLOSE BECAUSE CITY COUNCIL SAYS IT CAN’T AFFORD TO MOW THE GREEN

- By JOEL MOORE joel.moore@reachplc.com @Joelmoore9­8

MEMBERS of an historic Nottingham bowls club have been left “devastated” after it was forced to close due to council cuts.

Meadows Bowling Club, based at Queen’s Walk Recreation Ground, learnt that it would have to shut on Tuesday.

Nottingham City Council, which passed widespread cuts to services on March 4, said it could no longer afford to maintain the green. People who used the club described it as a “lifeline” and said they were worried about the knock-on effects in the community.

Around 15 elderly and disabled people were part of the club, which met on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings. However, members have been unable to play in recent years due to the “neglect” of the green by the council, chairman Roger Kirby said.

“They haven’t touched the green for years,” said the 80-year-old, who used to mow the lawn himself until he was told to stop by the authority.

“In February we were told there was a possibilit­y that they were going to close it. Now according to the council there’s nothing we can do. It’s devastatin­g really.”

Mr Kirby said the club, which he has been involved with for eight years, was “for the Meadows community”. He said in the past it had given £500 donations to nearby Welbeck Primary School and Meadows Food Bank. “It’s there for the Meadows, for people young, old, disabled to come in and have a bit of a bowl and exercise.” Kevin Dunford, the club’s former secretary, said he was also upset by the council’s decision. He said the club dates back as far as the early 1900s and provides a “lifeline” to many elderly people. “All the effort we put in has been wiped out in one fell swoop,” said the 69-year-old.

“On a nice sunny day it’s glorious, even just sitting outside and watching people play was nice. We have carers come down with people they look after, they put tables and chairs out and have some tea and coffee. It’s a little bit of respite. “It has a massive knockon effect, without the park and community there’s not much else round here. I know it’s inconvenie­nt having us old folk hanging around but we’ve got to do something.” The council said the maintenanc­e of the green cost almost £10,000 a year, and Mr Kirby said no-one was in a position to take care of it due to the members’ ages. “We understand that members of Meadows Bowling Club will be disappoint­ed but in light of the significan­t pressures on council budgets at present, we’ve had to look at absolutely everything that we do,” said a council spokespers­on.

“This has unfortunat­ely meant us having to take some difficult decisions to ensure best value for taxpayers. It was costing us around £10,000 a year to maintain this green and the club was generating a very small amount of income towards this.

“There are also other available bowling greens at Valley Road, Vernon Park, Forest Fields and Clifton playing fields.”

Mr Dunford added: “I know they’ve got to make cuts but it’s really destroying communitie­s. We have to pay more council tax and are getting far less.”

He also criticised the council for not including the bowling green in nearly £5,000 of funding set to be invested in Queen’s Walk park over the next year.

“We just want someone to cut the grass,” he said.

A member of the council’s parks department suggested the public could be asked whether they would like to see the green either made artificial or repurposed, an email seen by the Post shows.

Nottingham City Council have been approached for comment.

I know they’ve got to make cuts but it’s really destroying communitie­s ... we just want someone to cut the grass. Kevin Dunford

 ?? JOSEPH RAYNOR ?? Chairman Roger Kirby with members of the Meadows Bowling Club
JOSEPH RAYNOR Chairman Roger Kirby with members of the Meadows Bowling Club
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