“Pensioner bashing” is how elderly bowlers at Woodlesford Bowling Club have described plans to close their beloved green.
It comes as part of a controversial proposal to shut down 30 sites across the city, which has been met with anger and frustration from enthusiasts.
It comes as part of a controversial proposal to shut down 30 sites across the city, which has been met with anger and frustration from enthusiasts.
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00:00Hello, my name is Sharon. I've been at the bowling club for over 45 years.
00:06I'm Tony Harriman, and I've been 45 years at this club.
00:11I've had a few operations over the years, and if it weren't for this club,
00:17I would never have got walking as quick.
00:20I've had new knees, new hips, and I get the good exercise from this green,
00:26where if I'm sat in the house, I wouldn't be hobbling all over the place.
00:31This, for me, is the beginning of the end for bowling, if we allow this to happen.
00:40It should never happen.
00:43It's just pensioner bashing. It's older people that are suffering.
00:48It would impact me mentally and physically.
00:51We bowl four times a week here in different leagues.
00:55Socially, it's great to meet people.
00:58So that would impact us all the way around.
01:01Okay, my name's Dennis Birch. I'm a member of Woodlesford Bowling Club.
01:05I'm actually the chairman now. I've been a member here for 12 years.
01:10It's a local bowling club. It'd impact me greatly.
01:14The distance, I only live 200 yards from here.
01:18To move to another bowling club would be a car journey.
01:23Woodlesford's got its own identity.
01:26Obviously, we're playing league matches.
01:29I'd want to represent Woodlesford. I wouldn't want to represent Rothwell.
01:33Hello, I'm Stuart Galton, and I'm the councillor for Rothwell Ward.
01:37Hi, I'm Diane Chapman. I'm another councillor for Rothwell Ward.
01:41We wanted to come and talk to the members because we'd been sent a lot of very worried emails
01:47because it's a really cherished club.
01:51All of the members are here for their own particular reasons,
01:54and it's a very precious part of their lives.
01:58We think it's absolutely counterproductive to close facilities like this
02:03if we're really serious about protecting and improving the well-being of everybody
02:09at every stage in their life.
02:11Keeping up the pressure between now and the budget decision at the end of February is key.
02:16As councillors in Rothwell, we will be going through those budget proposals with a fine tooth comb
02:21to find alternatives because they are there. We just need to find them.
02:25Go!