Express & Star

Dudley Council bids to make clubs pay maintenance costs for bowling greens to save £48,000 a year

Bowling greens and croquet lawns in Stourbridge could be taken out of Dudley Council's hands and maintained by clubs instead, saving the authority around £48,000 a year.

Published

Bosses are set to launch a public consultation on whether greens and lawns that are part of The Ernest Stevens Trust should be leased to the clubs, which would not be charged rent.

Around £48,000 per year would be saved through savings on maintenance if leases were transferred under the proposals, council chiefs have said.

There are four greens under the trust – two at Mary Stevens Park in Stourbridge town centre and two at Stevens Park in Wollescote.

If the council gets the nod clubs would take over the day-to-day running and general maintenance of the land.

However, members of The Sons of Rest at Mary Stevens Park have objected to the proposals saying that they go against the park's deed of gift.

It comes as it was announced last year that bowling clubs across the borough face a hike of up to £12,000 in maintenance fees – as the council aims to save £20 million by 2018.

Bowls Secretary, Roger Wynne, spoke of his dismay. He said: "The survey is misleading as a legal lease is already in place with the deed of gift and its conditions.

"We cannot maintain the greens as we are all senior citizens and there would be the need for chemicals and safety equipment and its just something we could not take on."

The consultation also asks whether a restriction on ball games in the park on Sundays and Good Fridays should be lifted.

Councillor Hilary Bills, Cabinet member for environmental services, said: "If Ernest Stevens was around today then surely his attitude would be delighted to get people in the park on a Sunday and for the clubs to continue on the greens, as if we do not get this agreement then clubs could fold and that would be something that nobody would want."

Clubs currently pay only £750 towards maintenance.

But last year council chiefs said they could no longer afford to subsidise these costs, leaving club members facing a massive bill.

The consultation will start next Monday and run until November 13.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.