PLANNING chiefs at Warrington have approved a retrospective planning application to change the use of a pub bowling green despite objections from neighbours and a parish council.
The green at The Stag, in Chester Road, Walton was said to be 130 years old but had ceased to be used because the number of players had dwindled since the COVID 19 pandemic.
Walton Parish Council had objected on the grounds the change of use to an outdoor seating area would lead to excessive disruption in the locality – which would frequently be unacceptable.
Nearby residents opposed the scheme and claimed it had resulted in the bowling green becoming a “roofless drinking hall” and a “huge outdoor drinking area.”
They claimed the former green was being used by adults playing football and rugby who climbed fences to retrieve balls from nearby gardens.
Documents submitted with the application stated two bowling teams – men’s and women’s – had disbanded because no volunteers had been found to take on the role of greenkeeper. The previous greenkeeper had retired due to ill health.
As a result there was no-one to tend the green and maintain it to the standard required by competition rules.
Since bowling ceased, benches had been placed on it to allow the community to still enjoy the outdoor space, although in a different manner.
The cost of engaging a professional grounds maintenance company to manage the upkeep of the bowling green has been explored but had proved to be prohibitively expensive at around £12,500 per annum.
Planning officers said the use of the site as an outdoor area for the public house was not materially different to the previous lawful use as a bowling green.
4 Comments
it didn’t help that the landlord would not let bowlers use the car park on match days as it stopped restaurant goers from parking there and led to them “losing revenue”.
the cost of a drink was another factor in the bowlers not being welcome as they would not pay the high prices the pub charged.
The licensee isn’t bothered about the effect that this has on the pensioners and other people who use the bowling green .
All they are interested in putting cash in the till
It is a pub though, not a charity..? Hundreds of pubs a year close in this country, they need to make money however they can
agreed. its a beautiful pub and deserves a decent outdoor seating area for families drinking and eating at the pub. they might even put some plants, shrubs, or trees on the boarder to bring the garden to life and more fitting to the area.
i personally think it is more lucrative to the business to have the area made into a beer garden, than to keep it as a bowling green.
they could even have live local bands/singers/musicians/comedians on in the garden during the summer months, have a local fair or a mini market where locals can sell their creations – paintings, drawings, crocheted goods, toys, ornaments, local honey, bees wax candles/ornaments, handmade jewelry, etc all created by those within the community. would this not be more fitting to the community as a whole?
i know which i would choose if it were my pub.
you can never please everyone all the time. you have to go with the majority.