Newsome Bowlers call for a wealthy backer to resolve Bowling Dispute

Members of Newsome Community Sports and Bowling Club have made a call for a partnership with a wealthy backer to resolve the ongoing dispute over the Newsome Bowling Green that has been used by the Club for 110 years.

Currently the Bowling Club, along with Newsome Working Mens Club, is the responsibility of the Liquidators, Begbies Trainor Ltd, with Stuart Smith having a short term lease with an option to purchase which has not been taken  up. The Bowling Green is being marketed for sale as a package with the former Newsome Working Mens Club/Newsome Tap by the Liquidator and their Estate Agent, Walker Singleton. They will not sell the Bowling Green with Buildings seperately from the former Working Mens Club.

Jacqui Sullivan on behalf of Newsome Community Sports and Bowling Club said,

“ There is a window of opportunity to make an offer to the Liquidators for both the Working Mens Club (which has planning permission to convert to a 5 bedroom house) and the Bowling Green and its associated buildings (which has a legal covenant which says it can only be used as a Bowling Green).  The Working Mens Club and Bowling Green has been marketed for a figure of £250k. The Members of the Bowling Club would be keen to come to an arrangement with anyone wishing to work with them to secure the future of the Bowling Green and to take advantage of the opportunity of owning the former Working Mens Club as a residential property/investment.”

Councillor Andrew Cooper said

This is a real opportunity for someone with the necessary means to back the Newsome Bowlers and help us make an offer to the Liquidators. They just want to have the simple pleasure of playing bowls on the same piece of land they have for the last 110 years. Somebody out there could back the community and show that it isn’t always those who push people around who come out on top. I believe that business and people with means are not all like the leaseholder of Newsome Working Mens Club and  I am keen to talk to anyone who wants to help us reach a happy resolution to this saga. “

Councillor Cooper can be reached on 07721 348619 or andrew.cooper@kirklees.gov.uk and Jacqui Sullivan on 07709 796641 or jacqueline.sullivan7@ntlworld.com