A BOWLING club’s plan to build a hall is being recommended for refusal by council officials.
Gourock Park Bowling Club applied for permission to build the structure next to its pavilion.
The hall would comprise a 95-square-metre multi-use area, kitchen, storage and changing facilities.
Councillors are due to consider the application next week but planners say it should be refused because no additional parking is being provided.
They state in their report: “It has not been demonstrated that the development would not have a
detrimental impact on traffic and parking. The shortfall in parking is considered to have a detrimental impact on traffic and parking on the surrounding streets, particularly on Larkfield Road.”
Roads officials say eight parking spaces should be provided.
Architect Bruce Newlands, in a submission to the council on behalf of the club, states: “This proposal is to improve and replace the existing facilities on site rather than expand them.
“The new hall proposal has been developed in response to greater demand from existing members for winter activities (the new hall is sized to enable indoor bowls) and to provide more accessible changing facilities with integrated toilets for privacy, a fully accessible toilet and kitchen servery for the main hall – all of which they lack in the existing building.
“The applicant does not anticipate an increase in membership due to the proposed hall; membership numbers
are limited by the available bowling green space which remains unchanged.
“The club reports that they have never in 30-plus years received any complaints about parking in and
around the club.
“Refusal will effectively condemn the club to remain in a sub-standard council-owned clubhouse that doesn’t meet accessibility standards, has poor privacy standards and does not enable members to continue bowling practice during the winter months, damaging he group’s long term financial sustainability.”
