Campaign launched to save Skegness bowling greens

East Lindsey District Council (ELDC) made the announcement last week, saying the greens are expensive to maintain with little financial return.

However, local business owners say the tournaments still attract a lot of people to the resort – a vital source of income amidst a cost of living crisis.

The greens in question are on North Parade – a historic area of land on Skegness foreshore for nearly 100 years.

There are two very well-supported bowls weeks – Skegness Over 55’s, which begins at the weekend, and the EBF National Championships in August. Until recently there more but it is understood the contract with Magna Vitae expired and was not renewed.

In addition, the greens are used up to four times a week during the summer months by local bowls clubs playing competition matches in local leagues.

Coun Carl Macey told Lincolnshire World: “We think East Lindsey pulling funding for the competitions is a bad move.

"The greens have been here 68 years – and the gardens nearly 100 – and are part of our heritage.

"The competitions bring money into our economy and are part of our history and we want to do everything we can to save them.”

He said the biggest competition was the EBF finals in August: “We believe they attract around 1,000 people now with the families they bring and they all spend in the local economy – restaurants, bars and guest houses and hotels are busy during this time and it’s something that we need in a cost of living crisis.”

A public meeting is to be held at the Suncastle, which fronts the greens, on Wednesday, June 19, at 6pm.

Richard Underwood, who is landlord of the Suncastle, says he has had his teams out tidying the area ahead of the Over-55’s tournament.

"I think if the council stops maintaining them it would be a devastating blow to Skegness and the economy,” he said.

"The bowls weeks are really well-supported. There is certainly an appetite for these greens to be used more

"We are hosting the public meeting because we have to fight this – I look out at them every day and would be angry and upset if I hadn’t tried to do something.”

Craig Leyland, leader of East Lindsey District Council, said he was aware of the public meeting. He said: “The greens are on a protected heritage site but they are very expensive to maintain to competition standard.

"Interest in bowling has dwindled but we don’t want to see the greens go.

"We have, however, actively been seeking someone to take them on.”