Crossflatts bowlers’ fears for car parking (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Slenningford Bowling Club is worried development of homes could lead to its demise

9:30am Thursday 21st July 2011 in Crossflatts By Marc Meneaud, Aire Valley Chief Reporter

Members of a 110-year-old bowling club fear for its future if planning permission is granted today to build new homes opposite their bowling green.

The chairman of Slenningford Bowling Club in Slenningford Road, Crossflatts, claims there will not be enough on-street parking for its 100 members if developers are allowed to bulldoze Lea Bank, a large house opposite the green, to build six homes in its garden.

A report to Shipley area planning panel which will go before councillors at Bingley Town Hall at 10am today said parking in the area would remain “acceptable” should the application be given the go ahead. However, bowling club chairman Dennis Hayes said: “The vast majority of our members are over 60 – there are some over 80 – and we use the club for bowling during the summer and as a social club for old ladies to play cards during the winter.

“It is not a Council-owned green. We have got to pay for all the upkeep ourselves and we have to have a large number of members just to break even.

“If there is no parking, it is possible that we could go under.”

A previous application to build eight homes on the land was refused last year partly because of the impact it would have on the “idyllic” bowling club, which is next to the historic Five Rise Locks, but members have not even been consulted on the latest proposals, Mr Hayes said.

In the report, Bradford Council’s highway safety team said the proposed homes would be accessed from private drives from Slenningford Road and through an unadopted side road.

A dozen off-street parking spaces are also included in the plans as well as two visitor parking bays in lay-bys on the widened side road.

The report states: “The development will generate only small volumes of traffic owing to its scale. In addition, adequate off-street parking is to be provided, reducing the demand for on-street parking close to the site.”

Nobody from Belmont Design Services, the agent for the applicant, was available for comment.

• Read more in Thursday’s T&A