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Cllrs Alastair Moss and Lee Rowley at the Paddington Recreation Ground this week |
Paddington Rec bowling green will get another roll of the jack
Spirit of Sir Francis Drake is summoned as council holds off on redevelopment
BOWLING green in Paddington has been saved from being concreted over and turned into tennis courts.
Fans of the sedate sport will tread the manicured turf at Paddington Recreation Ground once more after they summoned the spirit of Sir Francis Drake – who famously insisted on finishing his game before defeating the Spanish Armada in 1588 – to persuade leisure chiefs at the council to abandon the plans.
White-flanneled bowling teams have been a fixture in the grounds for decades, but a new indoor centre around the corner at Paddington Sports Club has resulted in a defection of players, and the subsequent decay of the green.
Not a single team plays at the green, which costs less then £3 per person to book.
But the council has decided to postpone the decision to build three additional tennis courts on the site in Randolph Avenue for a year following a sustained campaign by residents.
The council are going on a marketing drive to see if more publicity will lead to a rise in players.
Campaigners have welcomed the development, questioning the need for more tennis courts in the park, which already boasts 15 courts.
Campaigners have also argued that if the bowling green is to be redeveloped, using the site as a garden or for allotments would be a better community use than more tennis courts.
The bowling green is only used by a handful of players every week and is closed over the winter.
In the summer, the parks department will monitor the use of the ground, which costs a significant amount in maintenance because of the constant mowing.
Maida Vale councillors spearheaded the campaign.
Councillor Jan Prendergast said: “It’s brilliant news that the council intends to spend the 2009 bowling season trying to reinvigorate the bowling green.
“Paddington Rec is very close to the heart of many local residents and they gave us a clear message that more time was needed to support the green. As local councillors we completely agreed that before any taxpayers’ money is spent on alternative uses we need to spend time nurturing the current facility.”
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