"A heated and unsavoury" public meeting to discuss future bowling provision in Ormiston has nevertheless been described as "a positive step for the village."
Those were the words of Ormiston Bowling Club President Stewart Johnson, who for over six months has been at loggerheads with Musselburgh publican Richard Ross over ownership of land attached to the Limeylands Road clubhouse.
As previously reporte
d in the News, Mr Ross's partner Lindsay Boyle purchased the premises for £37,000 in 2002.
The property has since been put on the market, priced at offers over £300,000.
The club alleges that the couple agreed — in the event of selling on the property — to hand over a locker room and bowling green to East Lothian Council.
However, in May last year Mr Ross took his partner to court in a bid to take possession of the premises.
He then boarded up the clubhouse and allegedly evicted bowlers without notice, leaving many elderly club members in tears.
Arranged by Ormiston Community Council, a recent meeting saw more than 200 locals gather inside the village hall to discuss the future of bowling provision.
The well-attended meeting heard contributions from both Mr Johnston and Mr Ross.
Community council chairman Jim Blane said: "We have concluded that as things stand there is little likelihood of bowling provision being retained in Ormiston unless East Lothian Council becomes involved.
"To date the current administration has been claiming they are unable, but more likely unwilling, to get involved."
It was agreed during the meeting — at which Labour councillors Jim Gillies and Donald Grant were the only local authority representatives present — that the community council should survey every household in Ormiston to canvass views on the continuation of bowling provisions in the village.
Mr Johnson told the News: "We want to be in a position where we can go to the council and lever them with some pressure to become involved, so last night was a positive step. There was definitely enough interest to conduct a survey on whether bowling provision should be retained locally, in one form or another."
Mr Ross commented: "I would be happy to see the council and/or a community group take ownership of the club premises as it would be a shame to see bowling provision lost forever.
"However, I would have to recoup money that has been lost. There have been two or three bids for the property already and I am expecting another couple over the next few days."
Detailed report appears in East Lothian News, February 5, 2010