Members of a Wisbech bowls club are celebrating after being told they can continue to use the facilities at the Hudson Centre after an identity change.
The continued use of the centre was in question because of an outstanding debt owed by the previous club and doubts over its future viability.
But that club was disbanded and a new one set up called the Hudson Indoor Bowls Club Wisbech.
The new club has worked with Living Sport, Cambridgeshire’s Community Sports Partnership, to develop a realistic business plan designed to grow membership over the next year. It has already enlisted about 90 members.
Initially it will use the hall on a casual basis with a view to signing a short-term lease in January, assuming that membership has grown as predicted in the next two months.
Councillor Michelle Tanfield, the council’s cabinet member responsible for sport and leisure, said: “It’s great to have met the new club’s committee and to know they are committed to attracting enough members to enable them to continue to play at the Hudson.
“With Fenland’s older population set to carry on growing, ensuring that they have the facilities to help keep them active is vitally important. But bowls is not just a sport for the older generation; it’s also one that younger people can enjoy, and I know the club is looking to link up with local schools to encourage more of them to play, too.”
Peter Human, the new club’s joint chairman, said: “I am very pleased that the district council felt that our business plan was viable and I am grateful for the support from both Living Sport and the town council in establishing the new club.
“It is now all about getting members committed and bowling again - we hope to have more than 100 people signed up in the coming months. The facility is excellent, so please get in touch, come down to the Hudson for a bowl and meet some new friends. We look forward to seeing you there.”
To join call membership secretary Roger Rawson on 07500 899431 or email roger@rlrdigital.co.uk.
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