Bowls club is still 'pushing' for slot in leisure revamp

MEMBERS FACE LONG WAIT FOR COUNCIL ANSWER

- By LAUREN MONAGHAN Local Democracy Reporter

Richard Herrod Centre in Carlton

AN indoor bowls club is still “pushing” to be included in redevelopment plans as the end of its lease nears.

In September, the fate of Gedling Indoor Bowls Club was left vulnerable after Gedling Borough Council’s cabinet decided to leave the club out of its plans to replace Carlton Forum Leisure Centre and the Richard Herrod Centre with a new building.

Under the plans, a new “Carlton Active” leisure and community facility would be built on the Richard Herrod site, which could include an eight-lane swimming pool and teaching pool, a 100-station gym, community rooms and a café.

The council has offered “non-financial support” to the bowls club to look at relocation options.

Up until that point, the club had been included in the redevelopment proposals.

The fight to keep the bowls club included continued last month when a petition signed by more than 1,000 people was presented to councillors, calling on the authority to “reinstate, retain and protect” indoor bowling in plans.

A decision to respond to the petition was deferred to a later meeting.

It was recently confirmed for a cabinet meeting on February 19 next year.

Ian Summerscales, director of the bowls club, said that the wait until February’s meeting was “unnerving” but the club was still “pushing” to be included in the new centre.

He said: “That in itself is quite concerning because our lease expires on the 30th of April.