A spokesman for Bradley Stoke Town Council says it is still willing to negotiate with Northavon Bowls Club over a disputed rent agreement but has accused the group of using “childish” tactics.
Councillor Robert Jones, who was involved in trying to broker a deal with the club over use of the green at Bailey’s Court, says he was “shocked” and “disappointed” at Sunday’s protest.
Members of the club decided to hold and impromptu match after the chains holding the gate shut were cut at some point overnight on Saturday.
A spokesman for the bowls club told the BBC they did not know who had cut the chains. The match was eventually abandoned when the police arrived.
They were protesting over an increase of their fees by 50% to £2,300, and then 8% a year for the next four years.
“We’ve tried, in the council in the last 12 months, very hard to reach a settlement,” Cllr Jones said. “Up until the other week we were still meeting with them regularly and discussing the contract.
“We think what has been offered is very fair and we think it’s very disappointing that they feel otherwise.”
Cllr Roberts went on to say that he felt the price rises were fair: “They’re paying considerably less than other users of Bailey’s Court.
“I think it’s a little unfair to the taxpayers of Bradley Stoke that they are subsidising this group of people to a much greater extent than other community users.”
He added that the town council want to continue to talk about a new deal: “We will continue to negotiate for as long as there is hope but we do need to know who at the bowls club is pulling the strings.
“We’d like to think they can sit down and talk to us rationally as adults but so far it’s childish protests from them, I’m afraid.”
3 responses so far ↓
1 gerry // Apr 21, 2008 at 9:12 pm
I have just listened to your interview with Councillor Jones concerning the bowls club dispute, and although he mentions that he feels we are being heavily subsidised and paying less than any other user, he fails to mention that we pay for the maintenance of the green to the tune of £8000 per year.
I believe the cricket club is heavily subsidised in relation to the upkeep of the wicket and the cricket square.
I would also like to clarify that I have been a member of the bowls club committee for the past 6 years, and no one person is “pulling the strings” as councillor Jones suggests; we are all fully united as a club and always have been.
We have always been willing to negotiate but the council will not accept any amendments we suggest.
2 alan brackstone // Apr 21, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Councillor Rob Jones is again telling “Porky Pies” NA bowls club is run by a commitee not just one person who he seems to dislike, that is being childish
If the people who suppose to negotiate with sports clubs acted more fairly there would not be a problem
All other sports organisations in Bradley Stoke are subsided
The bowls club had the most succesfull childrens club in the country with 200 young children but because of the disputes they will all now be bowling at other clubs
NA bowls also take “Curling around to disabled clubs and pensioners clubs around South Glos
without the suport of bowls that will now end
They also pay for a room at Baileys Court for lady pensioners to learn craft, open to all.
Does that not sound as if the club is doing more for the comunity than the council.
People have long memories, maybe the pensioners of Northavon bowls will not last long to have long memories but their children and grandchildren will.
Jones and Barge will have to sit up and listen
3 Barrie Smith // Apr 21, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Yet again it’s the older generation who are being got at. We have done our bit in society now we are being victimized by councilor Jones who wants to break an agreement drawn up between the Bowls Club and the Council some years ago.
The Council do not look after the Green we pay £8000 per an. plus our rent which is around total of £10000 if we had 100 members that would be £100 per person I think as a Senior Citizen I’m being forced out of the only activity I’m still able to take part in. So Mr Jones and the rest of the Council well, if they have a say in the matter please stop penalising us bowlers.
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