Goodbye to Hove bowling team in council cuts

3:00pm Tuesday 26th February 2013 in News By Ben Leo, reporter

Bowling greens at Western Lawns, Hove, Bowling greens at Western Lawns, Hove,

A historic bowling club could be on the brink of collapse after council bosses announced they are to take away its greens and pavilion due to budget cuts.

Kingsway Ladies Bowling Club fears its 75-year existence could soon be a distant memory after being told Brighton and Hove City Council is planning to close all but two out of ten greens on Western Lawns, Hove.

Town hall chiefs have said they are reclaiming the club pavilion for “commercial purposes” and are thought to be turning it into an ice-cream parlour.

Cynthia Joel, vice-captain of the Kingsway Ladies Bowling Club, fears the team’s elderly members won’t be able to carry on playing if they are forced to carry heavy bowls to an alternative site.

She said: “To take the pavilion for commercial purposes and requiring the Kingsway Ladies Club to move elsewhere would indeed be adding insult to injury and would, in effect, be cutting the ground from beneath our feet.

“Where are we to go to survive as a proper functioning bowls club?

Impact on elderly

“The club functions not only as a facility for competitively played lawn bowls on a national, county and local level, but also as an open air facility for all to exercise in, particularly the elderly.”

She added: “The pavilion building is in Sackville Gardens, a conservation area of Kingsway.

‘Shutting off forever’ “If the council were to take away the present pavilion for their commercial purposes it would have the effect of shutting off forever, the simple leisure of many, but mostly of the elderly.”

The club has celebrated numerous national and county honours throughout its history and has seen various members go on to represent England in international tournaments.

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokeswoman confirmed a decision was made to remove the West Bowling green on Hove Seafront.

Sje said: “The council will continue to promote bowling across the city to try and increase participation as many clubs have membership spaces.”

Talking point: How concerned are you about the closure of bowling greens in Hove? To what extent would you welcome an ice-cream parlour in the area? Share your views by commenting below or email The Argus letters pages letters@theargus.co.uk

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Comments(17)

Jimmy Stewart's Imaginary Rabbit says...
3:14pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Never mind, they can all go and play bowls on the new, exciting and happening 'garden space' that the council intend to spend millions on outside the King and Queen pub in Brighton.

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Charismatic Andrew says...
3:27pm Tue 26 Feb 13

....... or they can take up skateboarding at the new skate park at The Level......

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kopite_rob says...
3:30pm Tue 26 Feb 13

How short sighted can the council be? Ageing population with a need to remain physically & mentally active to reduce health & homecare costs. Surely it's better to continue to provide much needed outdoor activity and the socialization bowls gives, than pay later in greater healthcare costs. My Dad recently retired and my concern was how would he cope on his own, with few neighbours and lacking conversation and mental activity afforded by the workplace. Well he joined a bowls club, plays 5 times a week, has made many new friends and is testing a fit and active lifestyle as a consequence. I guess the council consider selling a few ice creams is more commercially viable than heading off long term health care demands of an ageing population.So short sighted.

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tradebooker says...
3:31pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Greens yet again stabbing their voters in the back... votethegreensout.com

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Phani Tikkala says...
3:31pm Tue 26 Feb 13

...or those new empty cycle lanes on the Old Shoreham Road can double up as a petanque court

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Plantpot says...
3:32pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Socialist councils always spite residents to make a political point to them. As has been pointed out elsewhere, money could be saved by cancelling ridiculous and unnecessary road schemes such as the 7 Dials and Lewes Road re-developments, also designed to make political points and spite the majority.

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kopite_rob says...
3:35pm Tue 26 Feb 13

And I'll add there's no mention of this in the council's seafront consultation paper. Lots of use of the phrase "is there enough space and opportunity to promote health and activity".So they're removing it! Idiots!

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chrisso says...
3:43pm Tue 26 Feb 13

The Greens are determined to keep digging their own electoral grave.

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spa301 says...
3:48pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Town hall chiefs have said they are reclaiming the club pavilion for “commercial purposes” and are thought to be turning it into an ice-cream parlour.....!?

Seems an extremely large space for an ice cream parlour besides which you can buy ice cream, very close by, at Marrocco's cafe, a large kiosk by K.Alfred's car park and another kiosk at the View restaurant..........
so where's the need for a fourth outlet?

The more this council push through their favoured anti car/pro bike schemes whilst punishing such people as these the more and more I despise them.

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fred clause says...
3:56pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Another hare brained idea by the greens to remove what is one of the busiest bowls clubs with an unneeded ice cream parlour when will they start thinking of their constituents instead of lining their pockets.

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Hugo-Worthing says...
5:33pm Tue 26 Feb 13

More madness from the Greens

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george smith says...
6:36pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Are they guilty of ageism?

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Morpheus says...
7:22pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Why does't the council try to run the bowling green on a commercial basis before deciding to close it?

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Maxwell's Ghost says...
7:27pm Tue 26 Feb 13

That's right close a sports facility for old ladies and stick up an ice cream parlour for obese kids.
Is there anything this council wont touch to push out the elderly and vulnerable to create a playground for their posh middle class mates.
More lost votes.

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rolivan says...
12:04am Wed 27 Feb 13

How about the rent from the Ice Cream Parlour funding the Upkeep of the Bowling greens and how big does this ice cream parlour need to be not the size of a pavilion.

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whereisthe...? says...
3:19pm Wed 27 Feb 13

Oh I see the rich, COUNCIL FUNDED Tory lot are here, now that their FREE RIDE is over!!


You lot were awfully quiet when your buddy Weatherly effectively KILLED people by making LOADS more homeless (and death rates have since SHOT UP).


You're so transparent its pathetic. You want everything for free, for yourselves, and NOTHING for anyone who disagrees with you.


Tough. Times have changed. BYE BYE TORIES. Enjoy the last dregs of being in government before 2015.

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Valerie Paynter says...
12:34am Thu 28 Feb 13

Sadly there appears not to be any sign of an amendment on this from either the Tories or Labour for Budget Council.

Elder abuse, I call it.

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