9:00pm Thursday 11th March 2010
By Chris Hopper
CROWN green bowlers fear that council plans to hike up match fees could “wipe out” the game.
Town hall chiefs say bowlers are not paying for every match they play on council-owned greens, lead-ing to a loss of revenue.
And they have put forward proposals in which clubs and members would foot the bill for all matches played and not just Monday games, as is the current situation.
But club bosses have reacted furiously, arguing that price hikes could be the “nail in the coffin” of the sport in Pendle.
Town hall officers said Pendle clubs were only paying for games on Mon-days because officers did not realise games were being played on other days.
However, attempts to rect-ify the mistake and charge for all home matches have been met with fury.
Geoff Nash, secretary of the Colne Doubles Bowling League, wrote to the council: “We feel this could be the first nail in the coffin of crown green bowling as we know it in Pendle.
“If you increase the fees then the clubs will have to pass this increase on to their members in the form of an increased membership fee.
“We implore you to reconsider.” Pendle Bowling Partnership chairman Malc-olm Shaw added: “It is the unanimous view that these charges will severely curtail the sport in the area, if not virtually wipe it out.
“You surely recognise that these charges are wildly excessive when you realise that the vast proportion of bowlers are pensioners.” Currently, clubs pay £13.49 for a home league match, a fee which could be payable for every match under the new proposals.
However, council officers say the new charges would mean members paying between £1.33 and £2.36 per game.
The issue goes to the council’s executive meeting next Thursday. Parks and recreation services have drawn up an alternative in the hope of avoiding a further stand-off with bowlers.
It would see clubs paying no increase this financial year, 50 per cent of full fees in the next two years and full charges in 2012/13.
Pendle Council owns bowling greens in Alkincoats, Barrowford, Brierfield, Earby, Marsden and Thomas Street, Nelson.
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