Future of site unclear as club move out

11:59am Sunday 18th May 2008

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THE FUTURE of a building that was the home of Knutsford Bowling Club for almost 40 years is unclear.

The club, founded in 1882, has decided to downsize because it does not have enough volunteers or funds to run the Mereheath Lane building.

A snooker room is being turned into a bowling pavilion and the rest of the clubhouse will be handed back to landlord Randle Brooks.

But agent Graham Pike said no decisions had been taken about what would happen to the building.

"You'll have to wait and see," he said.

Mr Pike said he could not reveal what discussions were taking place and said the fate of the clubhouse would not be decided for at least two months.

Knutsford Bowling Club moved to Mereheath Lane from Green Street in 1970 when Mr Brooks wanted to develop the town centre site.

Royce Court retirement complex was later built on the land.

Mr Brooks has recently enlisted the help of advisers HOW Planning in preparing plans to allow 42 acres of his land near Parkgate to be developed.

It is not known whether there are plans to develop the Mereheath Lane clubhouse site.

A spokesman for Knutsford Bowling Club said members did not know what Mr Brooks would do.

"We don't know what's going to happen to the remainder of the building," he said.

"It's at the very early stage of discussions."

But he said the club was happy with the sympathetic way it was being treated.

"As an organisation we're delighted at the support we're getting from Mr Pike and Mr Brooks," he said.