Public meeting over plans for hotel on bowls club green
A bowls club fighting plans to build a 30-bedroom hotel on its green says it would need £50,000 for a replacement.
Former Shrewsbury Town and Telford United manager Jake King has announced plans to create the hotel on land he owns opposite Ye Old Cross Gates in Ford, near Shrewsbury, which he took over last year.
But the land earmarked for development is used by Ford Bowling Club.
At a public meeting attended by about 30 residents last night, Andrew Jones, chairman of the club, said the £20,000 being offered to provide an alternative site by Mr King was not enough.
"I would estimate it would need in excess of £50,000 to replace what we already have. We have a wonderful facility that has served the village well for over 80 years," he said.
Shropshire councillor Roger Evans said he would not be pre-judging the application but he added: "If a community facility is lost, one argument that could be made is it needs to be replaced on a like-for-like basis. £20,000 would not provide it on a like-for-like basis."
