Introduction
Westborough Bowls Club’s ground is tucked away behind the Pippin Pub and is adjacent to the Allington Millennium Green in Cloudberry Close. The club has been in existence for 100 years but it is currently under serious threat. This page aims to raise awareness of the plight of the club and to explain what it is trying to do about it. All help with these efforts would be very gratefully received!
About the club
Westborough Bowls Club was founded in 1925 and has been playing bowls on what was part of the Trebor Sharps sports ground since 1980. When Antler Homes purchased the site in 2000, they granted the club a 25 year lease which expires in April 2026. Over that period, the ownership of the land has been transferred to new owners and the current landlords are not willing to renew the lease as they wish to sell the site with vacant possession. If that happens, it will almost certainly mean that the club will fold.
Playing bowls is known to provide health and well-being benefits for the participants, who are predominantly of the older generation. It is a very social activity involving gentle exercise in the fresh air. Westborough Bowls Club is designated as a Community Amateur Sports Club and it prides itself on having a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Over the years, it has encouraged and supported local residents of all ages, aptitude, and abilities to take up the game. The club also holds social events open to all, such as quiz nights and race nights, and donates a proportion of its income to charity each year. In recent years, they have also held specific fundraising events for charities such as MacMillan Cancer Support and the Alzheimer’s Society.
There have been several closures of bowls clubs in the local area in recent years and the loss of yet another would be a big blow to the members and to the local community. It is not clear what would happen to the bowling green site after it is sold.
What is the club doing about its situation?
The ideal situation would be if the club could buy the freehold but the current owners have not accepted any of the club’s offers so far. Nevertheless, the club are still keen to continue negotiations. The site may go to auction, in which case the club would need a sizeable sum of money available to bid for it.
Westborough members are rallying round and pledging gifts and loans to facilitate the purchase, whether that be directly or at auction, but this may well not be enough. A crowdfunding page has been set up at https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/help-save-westborough-bowls-club where supporters can make a donation to the cause.
The club is also contacting local businesses to try to get sponsorship or to enter into a partnership arrangement to preserve the current site as a bowling green.
The club is raising awareness of its plight with local residents and politicians and has received encouraging support from local councillors and Helen Grant MP.
What other help does the club need?
Westborough Bowls Club needs all the help that it can get to continue providing a valued local amenity. If there is any way that you can assist, it would be much appreciated. This could be in the form of expert advice, fresh ideas, financial support, or just messages of support.
To contact the club, please email plight@westboroughbowls.co.uk
Thank you for taking the time to read this page.
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