CONTROVERSIAL plans have been submitted to build an indoor bowls club in Coventry using £2million of taxpayers’ money – amid outcry from residents.
The Coundon Residents Group was formed in opposition to plans to create the new site at the Avenue Bowls Club on Gaveston Road.
The plans sparked fury from people who are demanding the use of a more appropriate site amid concerns of overcrowding at the council-owned site.
The closure of the ‘outdated’ Coventry Sports and Leisure Centre in Fairfax Street means the council has been seeking a new site for an indoor bowls club.
An application was submitted this month by developers SNC Lavalin. The public consultation phase will now run until May 7.
The group headed by Jo and Paul Alcock says the strength of feeling is epitomised by the 50 letters of objection against the development already submitted.
Paul said: “If you consider that there is a reduced footfall by 20 per cent for indoor bowls use at the current facility, for them to squeeze a site in an area that is already known to have traffic problems, poor access, which is difficult to get to, away from the city centre – ignoring the Coundon Road closure – just doesn’t make sense.
“You can’t hold national competitions here because you can’t get coaches here and get people in and out.
“There are other sites. The city centre would clearly be preferred if they want to grow the sport.”
Petitions were submitted to Coventry City Council last March containing hundreds of signatures, but their concerns fell on deaf ears.
But the group says its concerns are shared by a number of Labour and Conservative councillors, who supported the petitions.
Residents claim sites on a long list of 18 alternatives outlined in a council feasibility study would be more suitable and cheaper.
They feel there must be a reason yet to be disclosed why the council seems intent on using the Gaveston Road site.
Jo said: “We are still fighting to understand the council’s disjointed thinking and the decision to use the site with obscured access, no central location, limited transport links and no way for future expansion.
“What is the internal barrier or broken process that seems to be disabling Coventry Council to make a sound, strategic and financially viable decision?”
A Coventry City Council officer’s report from last year said: “The proposal for the development of an Indoor bowls facility at The Avenue Bowls Club is supported by the existing and proven, strong and sustainable club governance, with a sustainable business plan that will deliver an on-going annual rental income back to the council.”
