Hands off our green

As bowlers we strongly oppose the selling of Swansea Gardens bowling green, the tennis courts and parking facilities.

We suggest Arun District Council ‘invest in current facilities and upgrade by private sector contributions grant applications’.

We suggest Arun District Council stop putting profit before the rights of the more mature members of the community, many of which have poor mobility, and have the need for local and convenient sporting facilities.

The bowling clubs (Pagham Bowls Club, Telepost Bowls Club, Beavers (partially-sighted bowlers) jointly own, run and maintain the clubhouse, on site, and cater for other events involving the local community throughout the year. Over the years the clubs have invested in improvements to the clubhouse.

Waterloo Square, which Arun District Council have suggested as an alternative site for the bowling clubs, has three bowling clubs already playing there.

It would be oversubscribed, with poor parking facilities, particularly for the less mobile and older members of the community and would be completely unsuitable.

We do not need to lose another peaceful, green space in central Bognor Regis, in order to provide yet more housing in the already over-populated central areas.

Our politicians have told us recently, with the Olympics in our cities, to inspire the younger generation with sport, but also we do need to inspire the older generations too, to keep healthy and maintain interest in all sports.

Please do not let the quiet haven of Swansea Gardens bowling green, tennis courts and parking be turned into houses, as once it has been taken away, it can never be replaced.

Louise Saunders and Roy Osment

Aldwick,

Bognor Regis