LETTER: Outrageous to close us down

We are a very active club and have about 400 members, ranging from our junior section up to quite elderly active people. There are also about another 100 or more people who use our excellent facilities namely Probus Clubs, Blind Bowlers, U.3.A Groups and our local Alzheimers Society, the general public and we are increasing our youth members all the time.

The subject of our membership keeps being quoted as being a problem and this is why Horsham District Council thinks we do not need a building for the club.

We did have a much higher membership when we opened 19 years ago but what the council does not realise is quite a few were not playing members, they joined to support the newly opened club.

We still have a number of social members who come to enjoy the facilities all year round and the Alzheimer Society has just booked up for the remainder of the year for their meetings.

It is becoming a very popular venue for all occasions. With all the building going on around the club and other places in Horsham we could increase our membership, Horsham is a bigger town since the club was founded.

Our club is the only indoor bowls club in the Horsham District Council area of 200 square miles and it is outrageous if the council is thinking of closing us down.

No thought has been put into the older population of the Horsham area which is increasing all the time and how we should all keep fit in later life when we retire. Bowls is a sport which the older generation can do when they are unable do more physical sports.

The council has paid out thousands on consultants for advice - the tax payers’ money - and they still do not understand the difference between indoor bowls and outdoor bowls, as they are two quite different games.

People can still play indoor bowls up into their nineties which keeps them active and healthier; they also are getting out and are not quite so lonely if left in their own homes.

I lost my husband five years ago and being able to get out and see like minded people has kept me out of the doctor’s surgery.

We are well known both on the National and inter County level and host the Youth Finals every year. Our club is open all the year round, even though Horsham District Council seems to be under the impression we could manage only over the winter months.

More people are playing indoors over the summer months now as some outdoor clubs have closed. Our club is a great asset to the Horsham District area and the council has no right to close a going concern which people need not only for bowls but a social life as well.

Maybe when councillors get much older they will realise how important the club is.

I think Horsham District Council should get the right information before it tries to close Horsham District Indoor Bowls Club.

JANE DE FRAINE

Rough Way, Horsham