Darwen bowling club’s £400 wish for winter

1:41pm Friday 24th August 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Dan Clough, Reporter

PLAY ON Jack Harwood, Ann Allen and Rick Riley in action at Olive Lane Bowling Club PLAY ON Jack Harwood, Ann Allen and Rick Riley in action at Olive Lane Bowling Club

A DARWEN bowling club wants to stay open during winter – but is struggling to raise the council’s £400 fee to do so.

Olive Lane Bowling Club has appealed for help in its bid to provide the only access to green bowling in the town during these months.

Chairman Jack Harwood said: “We are trying to bowl through the winter. There are two clubs in Blackburn that stay open but nowhere in Darwen.

“It costs £400 and then £20 a month for water and heating, but we are all pensioners. We are trying to get everyone to pay £20.”

Mr Harwood said bow- ling was a great way for older people to keep active. He said: “I will be speaking to our MP, Jake Berry, about this.

“Government wants people to exercise but in winter we just end up sat at home. If the green was open, on better days we could come and bowl. And on the bad days we can sit inside and talk and drink tea.”

Mr Harwood said that bowling was very popular, even in winter.

He said: “Last year, sometimes Roe Lee had that many on that they had to queue up to get in.

“Yes it may be cold but you just wrap up and get on with it.”

Sudell councillor Roy Davies said: “They are quite right. If they want to play during the winter they should be able to.

“They shouldn’t have to just go into a cocoon and come back out when summer arrives.It is good to keep them active.

“They provide a good service to the young ones, too, with schools in the area coming over for lessons.”

Anyone able to help can call Mr Harwood on 01254 701216 or secretary Rick Riley on 01254 776477.

Comments (4)

2:03pm Fri 24 Aug 12

english rose 1 says...

I'm struggling to understand what the problem is here ?? Bowlers who have a BEEZ card (the vast majority) get their bowling for free during the summer which is great - the cheapest bowling in the whole country.
*
The cost for winter bowling is the £400 quoted + £20 a month for water & heating. So that's £540 (Sept-March)
*
So that works out at just £2.55 per day. Ok, some days will be snowed off, - but it still sounds like a great deal to me !
*
Say the green is used half of the winter days - that still works out at just £5.09 per day. Are the bowlers saying that they cannot afford £5.09 per day between them all ???
*
Cllr Davies' quote ''if they want to play during the winter they should be able to'' is misleading. They CAN bowl during the winter (like at Roe Lee) if they are prepared to pay a small amount.
*
The Council should be congratulated on having the cheapest bowling in the whole country.
I'm struggling to understand what the problem is here ?? Bowlers who have a BEEZ card (the vast majority) get their bowling for free during the summer which is great - the cheapest bowling in the whole country. * The cost for winter bowling is the £400 quoted + £20 a month for water & heating. So that's £540 (Sept-March) * So that works out at just £2.55 per day. Ok, some days will be snowed off, - but it still sounds like a great deal to me ! * Say the green is used half of the winter days - that still works out at just £5.09 per day. Are the bowlers saying that they cannot afford £5.09 per day between them all ??? * Cllr Davies' quote ''if they want to play during the winter they should be able to'' is misleading. They CAN bowl during the winter (like at Roe Lee) if they are prepared to pay a small amount. * The Council should be congratulated on having the cheapest bowling in the whole country. english rose 1

2:40pm Fri 24 Aug 12

louderfasterlonger says...

Opened up to members of all clubs in Darwen over the winter it should be able to generate income for the following year.
I congratulate them on they're first steps in marketing through the LT column.
Opened up to members of all clubs in Darwen over the winter it should be able to generate income for the following year. I congratulate them on they're first steps in marketing through the LT column. louderfasterlonger

2:41pm Fri 24 Aug 12

louderfasterlonger says...

Opened up to members of all clubs in Darwen over the winter it should be able to generate income for the following year.
I congratulate them on they're first steps in marketing through the LT column.
Opened up to members of all clubs in Darwen over the winter it should be able to generate income for the following year. I congratulate them on they're first steps in marketing through the LT column. louderfasterlonger

3:11pm Fri 24 Aug 12

Excluded again says...

Why don't they ask Blackburn with Darwen CVS for a list of organisations in the area that dole out small grants and put in an application?
Why don't they ask Blackburn with Darwen CVS for a list of organisations in the area that dole out small grants and put in an application? Excluded again

Comments are closed on this article.

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree