Bid to save bowls club threatened by development

Under the current plan the site of the club would become an NHS hub

The future of a historic bowling club in Surrey is set to be discussed at a council meeting later.

The land on which the 100-year-old Walton-on-Thames club stands could be sold by Elmbridge Borough Council (EBC) to make way for an NHS health hub to replace the town's community hospital, with the hospital site used for housing.

More than 3,000 people have signed a petition to save the club, while the council has been in discussion with members to try to find it a new location.

EBC will consider a motion to reject the planned sale without finding an alternative site for the club.

The local authority previously called it a "once in a generation" chance to bring state-of-the-art health facilities to the town, while the NHS said it was a "fantastic opportunity".

But campaigners said the plans would erase years of history and the tight-knit community around the club.

The motion is being put forward by councillor Gregor Macgregor.

He told BBC Radio Surrey the NHS facility was "a great idea".

He said: "People would welcome the longer opening hours, the opportunity to have walk in centres and more tests done locally.

"However, they don't want to see an opportunity for more flats to be built in Walton.

"It doesn't make any sense to pull down a perfectly good hospital and destroy a bowls club for this plan."

Gregor Macgregor (left), with fellow councillor Michael Atkinson at Walton-on-Thames bowling green

A council spokesman said: "We are continuing our discussions with Walton Bowling Club about their future plans and we will support them as best we can.

"This support includes a commitment to reasonable financial assistance for a merger or to improve bowls facilities in the borough."

In a statement, NHS Surrey Heartlands said: "The Rodney Road site cannot be demolished and rebuilt by the local NHS as it is owned by NHS Property Services, a subsidiary of the Department of Health.

"NHS PS does not have capital funding allocated for projects of this scale, meaning the site is only eligible for ad hoc repairs with no possibility for significant redevelopment or remodelling.

"Even without these funding constraints, the site is restricted by limited square footage and existing planning conditions."

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