Members from three bowling clubs under threat have spoken out ahead of a crunch council meeting which will decide their future.
Montrose area clubs Hillside, Inch and Melville have all offered to pay higher rents to the council but not at a level that would meet their £15,000-a-year maintenance costs.
The corporate services committee will consider whether to accept the offered rents or consider alternative use for their sites. The offers have been described as “unsustainable” by strategic director Alan McKeown in his report to councillors.
Kenneth Marvelley, president of Inch Bowling Club, which operates on council-owned land on Rossie Island, said the doubts over the club’s future had led to some members going to other clubs.
He said: “We are down to 15 members and we offered to increase our fees from £24.80 to £60 for a total of £900 a year rent. There is no way we’d be able to afford to take on all the maintenance.
“The club is like one big family but we are being broken apart. This will also completely destroy the league between the clubs.”
Mr McKeown suggested the bowling club land could be used to extend the council’s neighbouring cemetery.
“If the club are unable to continue, the land could be utilised as an extension to the adjacent cemetery, which is now reaching capacity and either requires extending or a new cemetery would have to be secured elsewhere,” he said in his report.
“This eventuality would enable Angus Council to extend the cemetery and make a significant annual saving of £15,000 in not carrying out maintenance of the bowling green.”
Hillside Bowling Club operates from Hillside Park, which Angus Council has leased until May 2023. The club has offered an annual rent of £500 and to take on some minor maintenance works.
Hillside’s president Raymond Nicoll said: “This has been a cloud above us. Folk don’t know what’s going on.”
Mr McKeown said the club’s ground could be amalgamated into the surrounding parkland at a cost of between £3,000 and £4,000.
He said: “Given the land is not in council ownership and the long-term future of the ground is uncertain, it may be considered appropriate that cost savings to the maintenance budget are met here.
“This option would save the annual maintenance figure of £15,000 for the remaining nine years of the lease.”
Hazel Campbell from Melville Bowling Green in Montrose, which proposed increasing its rental payments to £570 a year, said a solution could be for the three clubs to amalgamate.
She said: “Perhaps the best way forward would be if the three affected clubs got together and discussed amalgamating into one. Melville was formed in 1875 but if the council takes this decision all the history will be lost.
“If these facilities go then they will never be returned. The club is not just about the sport but it’s about the community getting together. We often have people coming along just to watch our games.”
Mr McKeown said there was “no wide community benefit” from Melville.
He said: “Due to its location in Montrose it would be possible to infill the green and create a parkland area with appropriate planting at an approximate cost of £2,000. The club building could be leased on the open market.”
Hope Paton Bowling Club in Montrose and Boyle Park Bowling Club in Forfar are responsible for maintenance of their greens. Angus Council is proposing entering into a 10-year lease with each club, setting a rent of £200 per annum from April.
Lease negotiations with Birkhill Bowling Club have been put on hold while the assessment for a community asset transfer is considered.