Bowls club facing a year's wait
Officials at a Bridgnorth bowling club destroyed by fire today revealed they could be forced to wait up to a year for an insurance claim to be sorted out because of the flooding backlog. Officials at a Bridgnorth bowling club destroyed by fire today revealed they could be forced to wait up to a year for an insurance claim to be sorted out because of the flooding backlog. The Bylet Bowls Clubhouse is to be razed to the ground after an arson attack gutted the building on Monday. But bosses have been told the claim will take longer than normal. This is because the insurance company have been inundated with claims following last month's bad weather. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
This is because the insurance company have been inundated with claims following last month's bad weather.
However club officials say they are determined a new clubhouse will be in place for the start of the season in April.
Club captain Tom McGill confirmed the existing building will have to be demolished and rebuilt following the attack on Monday morning.
"The clubhouse will have to be levelled to the ground," he said.
"The insurance company has told us it could be up to 12 months before we see any money because it has a backlog of claims from flooding.
"We want to be back up and running by April though. We are looking at the possibility of maybe getting an interest free loan or people that we know in the Bridgnorth area to do the work for us.
"Ideally we would like to have it done by April. That is our target but it may not happen. We have now got portable toilets for the matches and we might even get some sort of portable building there.
"The insurance company is saying things won't happen quickly so we might have to get on with things ourselves. Everyone has been wonderful to us so far. The support has been fantastic. It is quite overwhelming."
Mr McGill said the flood lights had now been restored at the club, off Severn Street. The club is more than 100 years old.
Police are still investigating the fire which they believe was caused by thieves who stole a wall safe at about 4.49am on Monday.
They stole £222 and the fire is also thought to have destroyed another safe containing £440.
The club has now set up a fund for anyone wanting to donate money to help the rebuilding of the clubhouse.
Donations should be sent to The Building Fund, Bylet Bowls Club, Severn Street, Bridgnorth, WV15 6BA.
By Steve Todd
