A STAFFORD bowls team established more than 20 years ago has disbanded because of the closure of its home green.
Perkins, who played in the Friday league, only found out Stafford Borough Council was closing the Corporation Street green when they rang to ask about this year’s charges.
Last week the Newsletter revealed the anger among bowlers who say they were not consulted or told about the move.
The Perkins team was established more than 20 years ago as Dorman Diesels, and moved to Corporation Street three years ago because of maintenance problems with their old ground.
Team captain Dave James said some of the players didn’t want to move to another green - which would have left him unable to field a team.
“Perkins has folded because the Corporation Street bowling green has closed,” he said.
The team was told they could play on greens at Stonefield, Rowley Park or Riverway.
“Having had that green taken off us they (the council) offered us alternatives but a few of the players didn’t want to go anywhere else so I wouldn’t have had enough players.
“I just phoned up to ask the council how much the subs would be to hire the green and I was told they were not using it this year.” With the league deadline looming next week a decision had to be made.
“When we were told we hadn’t got a ground the secretary and I phoned the players and asked their views. A few of them didn’t want to go anywhere else so we were short of four players.
“We decided then to call it a day. I’m very sad but it’s happened. We had to move quickly because the Friday league AGM is next week and we would have been fined if we hadn’t told them in time.” He added: “There are no facilities at Riverway. Why put two bowling greens in with no benches to sit on and no toilets to use? It’s a shame Corporation Street has closed with it being a facility for pensioners.
We have been going years. It’s sad because players wanted to play.” The council says it will be applying for planning permission to move a portable cabin at Corporation Street to the Riverway greens to provide toilets.
