WARRINGTON Borough Council has refused to suspend fees for the use of bowling greens in parks – and rejected claims that the greens are not maintained to an adequate standard.
But members of the council’s executive board have agreed to revive a focus group involving Town Hall staff and representatives of bowling organisations which used to meet regularly to discuss problems.
They will also seek sources of funding to benefit crown green bowling in the
borough and consider changes in charging policy for all sports facilities provided by the council.
This follows moves at a council meeting in June suggesting that all fees and charges for the use of bowling greens be suspended – in line with the policy in neighbouring Halton borough – and calls for increased spending on greens maintenance.
The board was told the council maintained 15 greens, including on at Walton Gardens which was available for pay-as-you-play casual bowling.
The other 14 were available to season ticket holders and clubs playing league bowls.
All were maintained by qualified green keepers in line with national crown green bowling standards.
It currently cost the council £4,500 a year per green to maintain them.
There were also seven former greens which would cost £38,000 plus labour, plus on-going maintenance, if brought back into use.
But in fact, the greens were only used at 50 per cent of capacity.
David McCallum, chairman of the Parks Bowling League, said a focus group which had existed to enable users of the greens to meet council representatives had been discontinued by the council.
Over the last 10 years, park bowling greens had deteriorated until they were an “absolute disgrace.”
Coun Linda Dirir said falling maintenance standards had led to a drastic reduction in the number of bowls leagues. It was not just the greens that were deteriorating but also pavilions and other buildings.
Coun Alan Litton, executive member for environment services, said fees and charges could not be suspended in the middle of the year because of the budget implications. Bowling could also not be treated differently than other sports.
He was assured the council used qualified green keepers to ensure standards were appropriately maintained.
It was agreed to re-establish the focus group for green users and to seek sources of funding for the benefit of bowls in Warrington.
