Greens under threat
North East Lincolnshire Council recommended to close six bowling greens
Six North East Lincolnshire bowling greens could be facing closure after the council have been recommended to maintain control of only four in the borough.
As has been previously reported, North East Lincolnshire Council announced that it would be closing bowling greens, reducing grass cutting and introducing a mobile parks maintenance plan as part of £1 million cuts to its parks budget.
Following a meeting of the Regeneration, Environment and Housing Scrutiny Panel, it has been recommended to the Council's Cabinet, that it maintains control of four of the area's bowling greens, with four others to be taken over by local community groups and the remaining seven to close.
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One bowling green, at St Clements Way, New Waltham has been taken over by New Waltham Parish Council after entering a a "tenancy at will agreement" with North East Lincolnshire Council in 2015.
Conservative Councillor John Fenty raised concerns at the meeting of the Scrutiny Panel yesterday, that removing these sporting facilities could have a negative impact on the overall health of people within the borough, noting how these bowling greens were some of the primary exercise locations for the elderly population.
The bowling greens that are currently under council control are:
four bowling greens at Barretts Recreation Ground
four bowling greens at Sussex Recreation Ground
two bowling greens at People's Park
one bowling green at Haverstoe park
one bowling green in Healing
one bowling green in Greenlands
one bowling green in Laceby
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No decision has yet been made about which bowling greens, if any, will actually close, and the council is hoping that at least four of the greens still under their control will be taken over by local community groups, if a decision is made to reduce the number they manage.
A decision will be made by North East Lincolnshire Council Cabinet on whether or not to relinquish control of the greens at their next meeting on Wednesday, April 12.
The Cabinet has also been recommended to carry out a review of the play area services within the borough, following the meeting of a working group, that felt the council needed to take stock and review how it could afford quality play areas that met the community needs.
The review's aim would be to look at the wider implications on the Council's health and wellbeing agenda, if changes were to be made to the play area provisions.
However the working group has agreed that it was not looking to build new play areas, but improve those that already exist.
The current play area provision is set to remain in place, and funded under the council budget until a further review takes place.
