Mid and East Antrim Council to axe £2.70 revenue bowling greens

Two Mid and East Antrim Council-owned bowling greens are to close after bringing in a revenue of just £2.70.
Bowls (stock image).Bowls (stock image).
Bowls (stock image).

The council’s Direct Services Committee has accepted an officer’s recommendation that the civic bowling green in People’s Park, Ballymena and in Greenisland should shut.

It follows a review of bowling green provision in the borough. There are currently eight that are council-owned in Mid and East Antrim.

The committee was told at a meeting in Carrickfergus on Tuesday evening that expenditure on maintenance and staffing at these facilities in Greenisland and People’s Park amounted to £15,000 in 2018/19.

During this period, Greenisland Bowling Green had been used just one half day a week and the green at People’s Park was used by members of the privately owned Ballymena Bowling Club when they could not access their own greens.

Councillors were advised it was “not a financially viable option to continue” with this expenditure.

The report stated the civic bowling greens “have seen declining usage in recent years and are no longer sustainable”.

Councillors were advised that Greenisland Bowling Club now has just six members and is no longer able to enter competitions which require eight-member teams.

Alliance Knockagh Alderman Noel Williams said that the evidence showed the bowling green was “unutilised”.

Meanwhile, 56 of the 57 hours usage at the People’s Park bowling green  in 2018 were free of charge because the bowlers had a concession as they were over 65 years of age. It was used for 24 hours between April and September last year.

The report  went on to say the council is preparing to submit a bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund which could see this bowling facility “re-purposed” for teenage provision.

It has also been suggested the Greenisland bowling green may be a possible location for a ‘Men’s Shed’ facility.

The report stated: “Closing the two bowling greens will represent a significant reduction in maintenance costs for the operations team and will free up valuable space for the enjoyment of many more residents than currently make use of the bowling provision.”

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter.