Controversial move to make bowling clubs pay up could be scrapped

Dudley Council has said it intends to reduce charges to previous levels as it believes the plan put forward by the previous Labour administration last year is unworkable.

Council leaders at the time tabled controversial plans to axe funding at three greens and a croquet lawn in Mary Stevens Park and Wollescote Park in Stourbridge in a bid to save around £50,000.

Under the original plans, the greens would have been leased to the clubs who would then have been charged rent. But the move led to concerns about how the upkeep of the lawns would be funded and potential health impacts if people were no longer able to play the sport.

Clubs complained at the time they could not afford to pay for the costs, while it was also argued the change would go against a deed of gift that covers to two parks.

Bosses eventually decided to shelve the lease proposal and instead hiked costs for clubs from £512 a year to £620.

Dudley Council has now said the plans could be scrapped completely as there was no long-term viable alternative to fund the greens. A final decision is due later this month.

Stourbridge ward councillor Heather Rogers, who is also a Friends of Mary Stevens Park member, insisted the council had a duty to fund the maintenance as the lawns could also be used by the public.

She said: “The council has a statutory responsibility to maintain trust land, therefore they have a statutory responsibility to maintain bowling greens and the croquet lawn to a playable standard.”