Taxpayers cough up to staff bowls centre

Shrewsbury taxpayers will have to foot a £26,000 bill to ensure the town’s Indoor Bowls Centre is staffed.

Problems arose when elderly volunteers had to step down because of “technology difficulties”, meaning extra money is needed to provide for the increase in paid staff. The cost of managing the centre has risen from £24,900 to £50,950 a year after the computer system became too complicated for the volunteers.

But when borough council cabinet members discuss the matter on May 19, a report states they will note the “extensive and hugely valuable contribution to the creation of the Shrewsbury Indoor Bowls Centre by members of the Shrewsbury Indoor Bowls Club”.

The bowls club did offer a voluntary steward presence during the opening hours of the £1.6 million centre but was unable to provide the level of service required.

Paid stewards took over from March 31. The bowls club agreed to manage the centre on behalf of the council when the Sundorne centre opened in November last year.

But a report to the cabinet says the extra cost of staff should not have a big impact because of more marketing which “will provide opportunities to increase income above that currently projected.”

The report, by leisure and community development manager Alan Wallin, says: “While the centre ran reasonably well between Nov- ember 2007 and March 2008, the borough council was frequently advised of the difficulty in attracting appropriate numbers of ste- wards to achieve full opening hours particularly at weekends, resulting in early closure.”

Shrewsbury IBC confines its involvement to club activities and books periods with the Sports Village.

In the report, Mr Wallin states: “Relationships with representatives of the bowling fraternity while at one time mutually strained have quickly recovered.”

He adds: “Leisure staff continue to work closely with the club in recognition that they, as primary users, greatly influence the success and long term sustainability of the centre.”

By Rebecca Lawrence