Bowling club fears for its future

Members of a bowling club in Derby that has been running for almost a century say its future is now uncertain.

The West End Bowls club is the only one in the city with two flat greens.

From April next year the city council plans to raise its rent to cover maintenance costs which will double the club's expenses.

But club member Jon Wilcoxon said many players were pensioners and there were fears the club would struggle to meet the increase.

He said: "The only way we could meet the fee is if we were to drastically increase the subscriptions which the members pay which is currently £55 a year.

"We'd have to raise it to something over £100 a year and pensioners would find it very difficult to pay that amount."

Derby City Council said it had spent the past 18 months discussing the new charge with clubs across the city and the rise in rent was necessary to cover maintenance work which could be as much as £10,000 per green.

The council spokesperson added: "The level of subsidy per player for bowls is higher than for any other sport played on parks.

"The council needs to find a way to reduce its costs and this is one way that this is being done."

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