KELBURN BOWLING PAVILION

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 64, 13 September 1926, Page 8

KELBURN BOWLING PAVILION

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—As a resident of Kelburn, and on behalf also of others interested, we notice that additions are now being made to the Kelburn Bowling Club pavilion, which stands on a portion of the Town Belt leased some years ago to the Kelburn Bowling Club. We do not object to tho bowling green itself, but wo certainly do protest strongly against tho erection of any building on a. public reserve such as the Town Belt is (unless in the public interest), and which decidedly affects us as ratepayers. We contend that no building should be erected in the interests of any one section, which can partly block and spoil the view of our magnificent harbour, and wo also contend that the council should havo insisted that no building of moro than one story should have been erected on such a site,, if. tl 10 interests of _ the immediate ratepayers were to be considered. Wo.notice.a published statement, under tho heading '-Bowls," as follows: "Mr. E. Meadowcroft stated that his club (Kelburn) contended that it was not justified in paying' a levy for men who were not bowlers. There were two billiard tables in their clubhouse, and some of the billiard players were sons of bowlers who attended in the capacity of honorary members for the sake of sociability," etc. Wo would therefore like to know the conditions under which tlie lease was granted. Was it for a bowling green, or was it for the. purpose of erecting, a building, the upper story of which was to be devoted to billiard tables for the use of honorary or other members, which additional story is worse than an eyesore and annoyance to us as ratepayer . inasmuch as onr outlook Iwk been spoiled and our interests have hot been suflicieiltly protected?—l KELBURN RESIDENT. 12th September.

.The letter was referred to the chairman of the Reserves Committee, Councillor \V. J-. Thompson, who commented as follows:—"The members of the Kelburn Bowling Club wore granted a lease of a portion of the Town Belt some years ago on condition that thoy laid down_ a green at their own expense and made improvements in planting trees and beautifying the surroundings generally, also being charged a fair rental for the land. Tho council is authorised by statute to lease suitable areas of the Belt to clubs for recreation purposes, and therefore is unite within its rights in granting this lease. The Kelburn Club has always carried Out its obligations in regard to this lease. The club is within its rights in erecting a pavilion, provided the building is not used as a dwelling-house. The present pavilion has been erected for many years.".