Parks problems percolate further

Bowling News

I have had two responses from site visitors about the developing situation with Greenhead Park. One from Bill Blackburn when he looks back several years to a similar position with Kirklees Council at Marsden Park and one from a local bowler who prefers to remain anonymous but has made himself known to me. There is also a link to an online Huddersfield Examiner report on the situation at the foot of this posting.

First from Bill Blackburn

What Kirklees Council suggests in that Greenhead members cut their own green is nothing new. When my dad, who died in 1999, played at Marsden Park, the council informed them they were too far out for someone to come two or three times a week to cut the green. They provided them with a mower and my dad, who had been greenkeeper at Linthwaite Hall for a number of years, along with a motley crew kept it going for a number of years until the club closed down, I think that was 2020, Bill   

Then from a known local bowler who wishes to remain anonymous

I read with interest the article describing the financial situation regarding Kirklees local authority bowling greens. A consultation will be held, but from the figures stated there can be little doubt of the outcome. The costs of maintaining a bowling green has risen sharply over the last few years and many private clubs as well as public ones are having to review finances.

In many local authority areas the cost of green maintenance is taken on by the club membership. The council agree that the club can continue to use the green as long as they be responsible for the costs of doing so. The alternative is to close the green which would be lost forever.

Crown green bowling has always been a low cost sport to participate in, but with financial pressure on clubs members need to be prepared to provide increased support from themselves. The typical annual bowling club membership subscription of around £25-00 is nowhere near enough to pay for all the cutting and maintenance required for a twelve month period. If costs are compared to golf club membership of around £1000-00 per year or any other sports club membership, bowling is a very inexpensive sport.

One solution could be for members to pay a modest amount each time they play a match. Even £1-00 levy can over the season raise enough cash to pay for cutting and maintenance for the year. One club I know of introduced a temporary £3-00 per person match levy and raised the full amount required to purchase a new mower costing around £7500-00. Of course if the club is making money and has a surplus it may wish to subsidise the bowling green. This is not always possible and many clubs faced with wage inflation and high energy bills do well to break even.

Everyone knows that the cost of living and inflation is hitting hard. The phenomenal success of the Winter League proves the popularity of crown green bowling, let’s hope solutions can be found and that all bowling clubs can survive and prosper.

In addition the Huddersfield Examiner has also publicised the disturbing situation as regards Greenhead Park on its online medium 'Yorkshire Live' which can be found here. This indicates that 14 parks across Kirklees are at risk of cutbacks and how the financial situation doesn't stack up.