A campaign is being launched to save Skegness bowling greens after fears major tournaments could be lost.
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00:00 A campaign is being launched after fears major bowls tournaments that have
00:06 boosted the economy in Skegness for 68 years may be lost.
00:11 Hi my name is Kyle Macy and I'm the Wimford Ward District Councillor.
00:16 Now we're at the North Parade Bowling Greens which are looking very smart today ahead of the
00:23 over 55s competition which comes to Skegness at the weekend but there are
00:29 concerns aren't there? Absolutely yes we've heard that East Linsey are
00:33 planning to pull the funding after this year for the competitions and for the
00:38 bowling greens that take place here. We think that that is a bad move backwards
00:43 realistically. They've been here for now 68 years, the gardens have been here for
00:48 nearly over a hundred and it brings in a lot of money to the local economy and
00:52 it's part of the heritage and history of Skegness and we really want to do
00:56 everything we can to save them and ensure that these competitions continue on.
01:00 Now there are two major competitions that take place here on there how many
01:07 people do they attract? Well the biggest one is the English Bowls Federation's
01:11 finals which take place in August and they bring in we estimate around a
01:15 thousand people now that's with families that come along with them. They're all
01:19 spending the local economy it's fantastic to see so many people here the
01:24 restaurants, bars, everywhere is busy from this as well as our guest houses, our bed
01:29 and breakfasts and hotels and it's something that we need in a cost of
01:32 living crisis where we need this in the local economy. Now already the word has
01:40 got around hasn't it and there's going to be a public meeting tell me about
01:43 that? Yeah absolutely on the 19th of June at 6 p.m. here at Songcastle there will
01:48 be a public meeting open to all and what we want to do is ensure that our
01:52 residents come along as well as those involved in the bowls and tell us what
01:56 they feel they don't want to be losing these greens. Obviously you know as I've
02:00 already said it's historical here and because they do have such an impact we
02:05 want the residents as well as the business owners to say you know this is
02:09 what it brings into us this is something we're going to sadly miss if it doesn't
02:13 continue. Now the area clearly does need some money spending on it sort of
02:18 changing rooms across there and and the surrounds of the greens. Do you think
02:26 really that bowling is is something of the past and maybe the council should be
02:33 looking at putting something new here? I don't think this should be I think you
02:38 know that the greens are used three to four times a week during the summer
02:40 months as we've said there are two competitions for the over 55s Bowls
02:44 Club we have the EBS major competition in August and in reality I think if the
02:51 greens were kept better we'd actually see even more people coming along and
02:54 using these. At the end of the day they are a piece of history and heritage for
02:59 Skegness which we need to keep and we need to actually ensure that we see more
03:03 usage of them and if they are to be kept better and some investment goes in them
03:07 we're already hearing we will see even more people return to make use of these.
03:13 Good morning, Richard Underwood here, I'm the landlord of the Suncastle here on the Skegness seafront.
03:19 Now the Suncastle it actually is in front of the bowling greens isn't it and
03:25 and it's something that you look out on every day. What do you think about the
03:32 news that the council isn't going to keep looking after them? I think it'd be
03:38 a devastating blow to Skegness and the local economy. The Bowls Weeks are really
03:44 well supported unfortunately there are less Bowls Weeks now but there's a number
03:49 of mitigating factors why that is. There's certainly an appetite for these
03:53 greens to be used more. In regards to the local economy the bed and breakfasts, the
03:58 hotels, the local pubs and restaurants are extremely busy due to the Bowls Weeks
04:03 that take place. The Nationals finals in August have always been very well
04:07 supported. This will be the 69th year this year and to lose this really would
04:11 be a massive blow to the town. And you said you had your own team actually
04:17 coming out and tidying the area to make it nice for the over 55s who are coming
04:22 at the weekend. That's right yeah we're getting ready with preparations for
04:25 another Bowls Week. I look forward to welcoming all the bowlers and the
04:30 organisers here from Sunday and we just sincerely hope that this isn't the last
04:35 year this competition takes place. And you're hosting the public meeting here
04:39 at the Suncastle aren't you? We are hosting the public meeting next
04:43 Wednesday 19th at 6 o'clock. When I heard the news on Thursday morning
04:49 regarding this decision I was really really quite upset and angry that no
04:54 local businesses have been consulted on the matter. And when I arrived on
04:58 Thursday morning I looked out over the back of the greens here I thought we've
05:01 got to fight this because every day that I arrive at work if the greens were to
05:05 go then I'd be angry and upset at myself for not trying to do something about it.
05:11 East Linsey District Council says they are aware of the public meeting and
05:16 would welcome hearing from anyone interested in taking on the bowling
05:21 greens.