Residents drawn into sports clubs' fence row in Bognor

Bognor residents have been drawn into a row between two sports clubs, after the positioning of a 10ft-high fence forced members to resort to on-road parking in an already-congested area of the town.

The fence, erected by Arun District Indoor Bowling Club in August, has prevented drivers accessing a car park which was once used by members of Bognor Lawn Tennis Club.

They must now park on rough, poorly-lit ground adjacent to Bognor Regis Town Football Club, or in Nyewood Lane, on which both clubs are situated.

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Warren Power, a resident of Nyewood Lane, said: "The bowling club shows little regard for the local residents and prefers to build their own little empire within an established community, using their financial strength and selfish attitude to do exactly as they please."

The two clubs back on to one another and tennis club members were previously free to park alongside their bowling counterparts, but the row has now spiralled out of control to drive a wedge between the two.

Tennis club chairman Malcolm Ridley said: "The fence is on tennis club land. It has been incorrectly sited so the bowling club can increase their own car-parking space.

"It causes us a real problem in winter as the ground becomes unsafe for parking and we are forced to park in Nyewood Lane."

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The bowling club, however, denies any wrongdoing and claims the erection of the fence was imposed upon it to comply with health-and-safety regulations.

Treasurer Barry Napper said: "We have erected our fence where it was supposed to be '“ it is on our land, 18 inches inside the boundary.

"There is nothing confrontational in what we've done.

"We are trying to get cars off the road and it has already reduced congestion in Nyewood Lane. Our intention is to maintain good relations with the tennis club and football club and we have not done this to upset residents either.

"Both clubs involved have a number of elderly members who simply do not like change."

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During the summer, bowling club facilities are made available to tennis members '“ an arrangement that still stands.

Ron Austin, a tennis club member, said: "There was goodwill between the two clubs for so many years.

"I don't understand why the bowls club have banned us but it's such a shame it's happened like this."

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