CROWN green bowlers in Ilkley and Addingham are facing another fight against council cutbacks, just two years after staving off a similar threat to their sport.
Bradford Council, which is having to save £82m by 2020, has said it will stop maintaining bowling greens across the district, handing the responsibility over to clubs.
But the district’s three crown green bowling associations have united to fight the plans, saying the move would force some clubs to fold.
Airedale and Wharfedale, Bradford and the Worth Valley Crown Green Bowling Associations argue that it is very difficult to find private companies which can maintain greens to the exact specifications required.
Cliff Dennis, chairman of Myrtle Park Bowling Club in Bingley and a senior figure at Airedale and Wharfedale Crown Green Bowling Association, said: “There is no doubt that if these proposals are implemented, clubs will close.
“We fully understand and appreciate that the council has to make savings as a result of the Government’s austerity programme.
“However, the council does say it wants people to be empowered to live fulfilled and independent lives for as long as possible. By doing so, it will make savings to social care and the NHS by keeping older people active physically, mentally and socially longer into retirement years.”
Two years ago, faced with a similar threat, bowlers agreed to each pay a £15 annual maintenance fee on top of their club subscriptions, which has since risen to £25.
Mr Dennis said this had demonstrated that players were happy to work with the council and called for another compromise.
Cllr Sarah Ferriby, the council’s executive member for sport, said the authority had “fewer options open to us with each passing year of central government cuts to our district”.
She said: “In these proposals we’ve done our best to focus on where we can have the biggest impact and achieve the best outcomes. Caring for the elderly and looking after vulnerable children continues to take up a large part of the council budget and the demands increase, while the resources diminish.
“We are in a consultation period and we will listen to all feedback. Our focus is on achieving the best for people across the district.”
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