Members of an Angus bowling club have received a last-minute reprieve over their bowling green’s future.
Monifieth Bowling Club will get Angus Council help to cut their grass for at least another year following a new deal struck with local authority chiefs.
Green users had been asked to cut the green themselves in a bid to reduce costs but this was viewed as an unrealistic expectation.
Club president Stewart Brown said: “Following a meeting with Angus Council we are delighted to report that we have got an agreement from them that they will continue to cut our grass during the 2015 season, beginning in April.
“We are happy with this and at the moment prepared to take things one year at a time with the council.”
Members of the club had hit out when it emerged the council wanted them to take over greens maintenance.
Club representatives said this was unrealistic as most of their members are pensioners.
An angry member said at the time: “Clearly we can’t do this ourselves as most of our members are in their 60s and we have two members who are over 90.”
The members also claimed greens maintenance is a fairly skilled job and could not be done properly by members.
Angus Council had been attempting to standardise services to clubs such as this one.
This process was particularly felt in Montrose areas, whose municipal clubs operated under a less standard “gentleman’s agreement”.
As a result of standardisation last year, several greens faced a “huge” rise in rates and membership fees.
Monifieth Grange has a five-year lease with Angus Council that expires in April.
A council spokeswoman confirmed officials had met with the club and agreed to renew its lease on an annual basis.
She added: “In the meantime we will work to reduce maintenance costs without it affecting the green.
“We can confirm that we recently met with the club to discuss how we and the club can work in partnership during the 2015 season.”