Forum Topic

Fighting to save bowling in Gunnersbury Park

A great many of you were disgusted at the appalling way CIC treated the Gunnersbury Park Bowls Club and expressed your support for our fight, so here's an update. Putt in the Park, with the backing of the CIC, put in a planning application, which would involve destroying the bowling green in order to turn it into crazy golf and use the pavilion as a restaurant/cafe. The first application was refused. They have now put in another application. Since the project remains the same, if there were a level playing field this application should also be refused. But who knows what's going on in the background...Our task now is to make sure the Planning Committee know how much we value the bowling facility and want it to continue. Our objections should be sent to planning.objections@hounslow.gov.uk under the email title :Bowls Green and Pavilion, Gunnersbury Park, W3 8LQ (Ref: P/2020/3080) by 30 October 2020. Bowling is an almost a century-old tradition in GP, it's excellent to maintain physical health, to promote wellbeing and good mental health, to help combat obesity, to prevent loneliness and isolation in the older community. It should remain in the park as an amenity for posterity, costing the councils not a penny as it would continue to be maintained and looked after by the members as it has for so many years. If we win our fight, anyone can come along on their own or with friends to try bowling. We can provide free instruction to get you started and also the free use of equipment. You'll really enjoy it! So send in your objections and let us safeguard bowling in GP!

Bela Cunha ● 1766d16 Comments

This a problem with many park operators with long established amenities.How can they even have the right to an existing self sufficientt site?I understand the bowls club has had no subsidy at all for nearly a quarter of a century.The problem with councils and their spin offs is that the bean counters put a price on everything and have no grasp of how all these things like small clubs manage with virtually nothing.  They apply a corporate approach to everything and it's killing off organic community.So a village can manage to have a subsidised bowling, croquet or cricket club with a very small membership and it ticks along nicely but urban densely populated districts cannot because someone somewhere attached and artificial price to it, thus killing another part of normal life and well being.I dare say some firm will be commissioned for ££££££££s to produce a report on what is failing in community.

Raymond Havelock ● 1726d

The claim that the club costs money is based on the opportunity cost of it being there. Putt in the Park will be paying a facility fee. Whether than justifies what they are doing is hard to say but Cllr Lambert seems to have been a bit too willing to believe things he has been told without checking.

Jeremy Parkinson ● 1726d

Thank you, Raymond, I couldn't have put it better myself. Let me correct a few misstatements. When the bowls club was evicted by the CIC, we were told to clear the premises and remove our stuff by January. We had to dispose of our equipment, we had no choice. When it became widely known how we had been treated, a wave of support was forthcoming and we now have over 40 members. Offers of help have come from various organisations. A band of volunteers have been looking after the green, weeding and mowing it to make sure it does not fall into irreparable disrepair. We had to remove several huge lumps of concrete which had deliberately been dumped on the green. And we noted with dismay the damage the contractors for the sports hub had done by driving heavy lorries across the front of the pavilion.A second planning application (for the same project) was due to be refused, with the planning officer laying out a number of valid reasons why. Let me again clarify: it is not just a 'technical issue', it is indeed a policy issue, as it contradicts the statements and aims of Hounslow Council and the CIC itself regarding health and wellbeing and community inclusivity. It is also misleading to say the choice is between replacing the green with crazy golf or leaving it in dereliction for 18 months. The site would have to be abandoned for 18 months to prove no one wanted to keep it for bowling. That is not the case.Destroying an existing amenity in the park should be unthinkable, except as the absolute last resort if totally unavoidable. That is not the case, if only there were the willingness to consider another site for the golf. The old tennis courts are a flat, level piece of ground, with a building with the necessary services right beside it and only a couple of minutes from the car park.Golf and bowling could co-exist in the park, if the CIC allowed us to carry on looking after the green and clubhouse as the councils were previously happy for us to do, preserving an amenity in the park without costing them anything. (The claim that the club cost the CIC so much money has been totally debunked.) The CIC could even offer us some support with an advertising banner or two! It's for the good of the park, for the community, to safeguard an amenity for future generations. Why is it so imperative to destroy it ratgher than support it?

Bela Cunha ● 1731d

It does not really matter about the he said - she said.The stuff the CIC has been putting out is the same stuff that you now acknowledge as not quite true.But this is a valuable facility to local people.  Bowls clubs are never very big but trying to function with hands tied behind their backs is hardly going to succeed.It's managed pretty well for 90 years.Fact is things have changed immensely. You are all very keen to force changes on transport and movement but where's the commitment to having facilities to hand?Bowls is a global sport and played in almost every country that his country has an association with and communities long established and part of out make up.Surely it ought to be encouraged, it is cheap and accessible and certainly spans all classes and age groups.If there's ever been a more important time to protect and revive amenities it's now.How on earth is an obesity generating food outlet with a once in a blue moon novelty a suitable replacement other than for profit? It's not golf it's Crazy Golf, a Holiday treat pastime.This park had a fabulous proper high quality pitch an putt golf course, perfect exercise, perfect introduction for golf for kids and families and the place was packed with rare birdlife and wildlife.What has the CIC achieved in this space? A derelict looking weed strewn dog turd strewn  toilet. The wildlife and birdlife gone. Which I highlighted with an RSPB expert some years ago now.Having just read the planning report, it is absolutely bang on for once and far more diligent and perceptive than several much larger application reports.Have the CIC acted in accordance with their remit? Not if their published website accord is to be taken as gospel.Really shameful. Never mind the politics, saving a facility of low cost for senior citizens and future senior citizens and by no means exclusively ought to be paramount.

Raymond Havelock ● 1735d

I have actually been quite active for some time in this debate. I was told by a former member some time ago that the bowls club had disbanded and its equipment been sold but apparently this was incorrect.I called in the planning application because refusal would be pointless. The technical planning objection is simply that to change the use of the pavilion its availability needs to be advertised for 18 months.So as I understand it the CIC would have to put it with an estate agent for 18 months as available for lease for a community activity (though a cafe, which is what's proposed, is classified as a community use anyway, but apparently that's not OK, don't really understand why). There is no planning issue with turning the green itself over to golf (though of course that's a technical matter: there may be a policy issue).Without a meeting of minds, there's a serious chance that the whole thing would stand derelict for 18 months then the golf plan would proceed. My understanding is the CIC offered it to the bowls club but the terms could not be agreed. I have no view (or knowledge) as to whether that was because the terms were unreasonable or because the bowls club couldn't make a reasonable offer. There is a difference of opinion.  I am now working with Brentford Voice to try and get a mediated meeting between the bowlers and the CIC so we can get out of the 'he said, she said' situation we find ourselves in currently.I am legally debarred from taking a firm view on this in planning terms until it comes to committee, as is Mel Collins, as we are both planning committee members.I am not going to comment on numbers of bowlers, other than to say the ambition of the club in July was to grow membership after 2-2 1/2 years to 60 plus

Guy Lambert ● 1735d

What is the current active membership of the club?

Neil Chippendale ● 1736d

I used to play bowls and what a great game it is. Its skillful and very sociable and good for mental and physical health. I can't believe that it could even be considered to change the Gunnersbury club into a pizza cafe and crazy golf. What a state we are in. This is meant to be a public park and not a theme park.

Fred Heston ● 1736d

Apparently, I understand all 3 ward councillors have been levered into all of a sudden moving to block the planning officers recommendation to refuse permission to build a pizzeria and Crazy Golf amusement on the Bowling club green and clubhouse.Given the apathy of councillors on this which has been apparent, this seems a bit dodgy to say the least.This is a brilliant facility for exercise for older citizens and ia a game that can be played at any age.  Such a shame it has a bit of a staid image but we played it at school for one year - ironically on the public green at Gunnersbury ( Our PE Teacher was a county class player - and an international Football referee!!)Walk or Cycle? Where to when you are abolishing accessible and affordable facilities.If this is true then it really is a disgrace.Maybe someone in the know can highlight this a bit more?

Raymond Havelock ● 1736d

The plight of the Gunnersbury Park Bowling Club made it into the National Press over the weekend - Telegraph.  Hope it has aided the few loyal volunteers and bowlers alike and you get to keep your Club.

Jennifer Selig ● 1736d

Having just read about the Parking, theres clearly some sort of anti older people agenda going on there.  Charging Disabled/blue badge holders to park unless they use a paying facility?In a local public park?What a shower. Well done Hounslow for once but surely a closer look needs to be taken on what on earth is going on at this rather topsy turvy park.

Raymond Havelock ● 1763d

Even in New Yorkand all it's outer suburbs, every open space has free wifi, In many european countries all park and recreation facilities are free,Every estate has outdoor concrete table tennis tables and these fab older peoples gym type exercisers are tucked away everywhere.Very sparse here.But looked up Bowls last night and correct on a big revival worldwide but dragging here in the UK. Main culprit? Negligent councils and placing price tags on everything.So much for all the hot air on healthier living for young or old and of modest or limited means.

Raymond Havelock ● 1764d

Monetisation of public parks. I never even thought of this when I was a teenager. Used to send for a permit  to go fishing in Osterley park, it was free. Now I notice to go for a walk around the back of the house and the Adam's summerhouse you have to pay. Some time ago I was in a public green space in Paris and noticed a large concrete seat, several people were sitting and standing around it. I could not see why? Someone explained the it was free public wifi,  the router being in the seat. Nothing free here.

Nicholas Beard ● 1764d

Yes, against the trend in recent years, many golf clubs have recently seen a remarkable increase in membership. Many people have realised that a game of golf in the open air is as safe a thing to do as anything these days. A similar increase is becoming apparent in the membership of bowling clubs. The social, recreational, and health benefits of these activities are more apparent than ever.As Bela suggests, I do hope that as many as possible will lodge a comment on the planning application for the site of Gunnersbury Park Bowling Club. In the face of austerity and cuts in local goverment spending, the monetisation of public parks is a London-wide and nationwide issue. We mustn't allow these circumstances to lead to the destruction of a 90 year-old community asset.

Jim Storrar ● 1765d

Golf's going the same way.

Keith Iddon ● 1765d

With Bowls on a revival across the UK, one would have thought it would be happening here too.Surely this is just as important an amenity as a swimming pool or a library?

Raymond Havelock ● 1765d

All we hear is dont sit on the settee, get out, have exercise. Reality close the bowling club! Schools have their playing fields sold off (unless they are private).  I remember being on a train going through Holland, small stadiums by most schools, and lots of sports facilities. Well this is the reality here in GP.

Nicholas Beard ● 1765d