Bowlers in Teignbridge have been left fearing that potential changes to leases could drive their clubs out of business.
Leases held by some of the bowling clubs in the district on council owned land have been running for more than 20 years, but many of them are set to expire in 2021.
Currently maintenance costs of the bowling rinks fall to Teignbridge District Council, but with ever increasing financial pressures on the council, Tuesday morning’s executive meeting heard that some or all of the maintenance costs may be transferred the clubs when their leases expire.
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Preliminary discussions over renewal arrangements for the leases held by clubs were discussed in private with the press and public excluded at Tuesday’s executive meeting, but members of the public told councillors that if clubs were forced to take over the maintenance of the greens then it could put them out of business.
Peter Sweet, treasurer and greens manager for the Marina Bowling Club in Dawlish, said: “If it is forced upon us to take over the maintenance of the green once our lease expiries, we do not have the finance or the age of membership to carry out that responsibility. Our membership is mostly over the age of 60 and any younger players are still working or at school.
“During last season, 3,452 persons played bowls at our club and this would be a great loss for all those concerned. Our green is open to passing visitor footfall during the season and that facility would be lost. We could be left with no bowling club in Dawlish.
“If you take the decision to hand back maintenance to the bowling clubs, and they decide to hand them back, you will be left with assets that no longer bring in revenue but will still incur costs. They cannot be sold due to their location. Our club alone have eight teams visiting this year and they stay in the area when not playing bowls and spend money with local businesses.
“Any meeting with the bowling clubs must take a priority. We need to plan for the future and anticipate that the lease costs are set to rise, so we need to have it as a matter of urgency.”
Dale Carlton, chairman of Shaldon Bowling Club, added that councillors have the future of bowling clubs in their hands.
He added: “Bowling clubs play an important role within the community, particularly for the over 60’s of the community. They help with their health, social contacts, and generally their wellbeing. The clubs are not limited to the elderly but they also attract a younger element who can progress through to club and county. Thus you be assurance that given when discussing Bowling Green, they will be viewed as a community asset.
“Choices have to be made and can be made in two ways. Teignbridge can accept it is not for them and pass responsibility to clubs, which would result in a reduction of greens with no obvious better use for the land, or take a route to work with the clubs and town and parish councils.
“You do not want the clubs to disappear, so I hope you will communicate more clearly about the future of the bowling clubs.”
In response, Cllr Alan Connett, portfolio holder for corporate resources, said that the council did recognise the value of the blowing clubs and wish to continue with them, and that today’s report in the first step in that process.
He said: “I understand that given the leases have been running for over 20 years and are about to come to an end, we have to open up the conversation about the leases and that brings uncertainty, as it would with any lease.
“We are not anticipating the closure of any of the bowling clubs. We are looking to open discussions with the various clubs, mindful that many of the leases expire next year. We want to begin those discussions at the earliest opportunity and work positively with the clubs
“I am trying to convey our desire to see bowling continue, but we cannot ignore the leases are coming to an end and our desire to do that at an early opportunity.
“I am delighted to read from the questions about the number of people and visiting clubs using bowling clubs. None of the clubs are on an asset disposal list and we do not want to see bowling clubs close, but with many of the leases expiring next year, we do need to begin discussions with clubs to work through the future options, and it would be short sighted of us, knowing the leases are coming to a close, not to begin the process of talking with the clubs.
“This is the start of a process, and welcome the suggestion that town and parish councils may be engaged.”
He said that the council did have a letter ready to send to the clubs that outlined first steps in the discussions about the lease arrangements, but that it couldn’t be sent to the clubs until a decision is taken by the executive at the meeting to do so.
A report on bowling club premises on Council owned land was discussed and agreed by the executive in the Part II session of the meeting with the press and public excluded due to the commercially sensitive nature of the lease discussions.
