Hove bowling green saved from the diggers – for now

A seafront bowling green has been given a stay of execution after council officials threatened to remove the turf.

Members of the Hove and Kingsway bowling club said they were shocked when Brighton and Hove City Council revealed it was about to move the diggers in to decommission one of its rinks as part of a cost-cutting exercise.

But the club, which has its roots in the 19th Century, appealed claiming members were not consulted about any plans.

To ease local worries, officials have now promised to temporarily shelve the proposal while it talks to locals about what could be done with the site.

David Lee, the club’s treasurer, said it was interested in taking over the running of the site – but had been unable to put its case forward due to the speediness of the decision.

He added that because the area had now been granted Fields in Trust status it should be exempt from any takeover for the time being.

Yet local authority officials maintain that two separate pieces of consultation last year was sufficient.

If the diggers moved in, it would be the second seafront bowling green to be lost in recent years.

In July the Hove and Kingsway Ladies green was decommissioned as the local authority said it did not have the money to continue subsidising its upkeep.

Ward councillor Graham Cox said: “The bowling club want to see if they can find a way of maintaining this green themselves. If the turf is removed then that possibility is gone forever.

“A fearful mess has already been made of the A green – it is covered in stones and flints and totally unusable for any kind of recreational purpose following the works undertaken on that last year. I am at a loss why anyone should think we should repeat the exercise with this green.”

The issue will be discussed at a meeting between the two groups today (Friday).

Geoffrey Bowden, chairman of the council’s economic development committee, said: “It’s not true to say there has not been any consultation.

“All the club’s who were going to lose greens were consulted with last year before a decision was made.

“Obviously I hope that we can come to an agreement but if they want to maintain if then the club has to come forward with a credible business plan to show they have the finances to do that.”

Cllr Bowden added the council would continue to promote bowling across the city to try and increase participation as many clubs have membership spaces.