FRESH hopes have arisen to bring the first dedicated indoor bowls centre to East Lancashire.

Bowling enthusiast Bill Stemp hopes Blackburn with Darwen Council will finance his drive to launch a six-rink centre in a disused unit at Glenfield Business Park.

Mr Stemp, chair of Dugdale Memorial Bowling Club in Blackburn, said demand had increased for the facility since the only indoor space in the area at Albion Mill in the town closed in 2008.

He added that as temporary indoor sites in local leisure centres could not always offer adequate provision for bowling teams, some people travelled to Blackpool to train during winter.

He believed the basement venue, located in the same building as the Blackburn Optical Centre, could be renovated for £180,000.

In 2009, a bid to establish a facility on the site with Sports England funding was ruled unsuccessful.

Mr Stemp, of Belgrave Road, Darwen, said: “We have hundreds of bowls players in the county so there is a need for a custom built centre. Whilst we appreciate there are facilities, the mats and floors aren’t all that suitable, most sessions are only for one hour per week and space is very limited.

“I would like the centre to run alongside the leisure centre sites, not instead of them. I have support from many bowls centres and believe we could generate up to £20,000 from local members through memberships.

“I think that with rent and other fees, the council could stand to make a healthy profit from it for the seven months of the year when outdoor bowling is unsuitable.

“If the council agrees to it then we would volunteer at the site alongside staff because of our knowledge of the sport.”

Council executive member for Leisure Damian Talbot said: “I am aware of Mr Stemp’s proposal and would welcome talks with him to discuss potential options for the centre and support any external funding bids.

“But due to current budget restraints, we wouldn’t like to make a financial commitment to the project at this stage.”