Bowling club future under discussion
A public meeting has been called to discuss the future of crisis-hit Ormiston Bowling Club.
Management at the club are embroiled in a bitter dispute with Musselburgh publican Rickie Ross, who purchased the Limeylands Road premises for 37,000 in 2002.
It is alleged that the sale was made on the proviso that a bowling green and clubhouse be handed over to East Lothian Council.
However, in August last year, elderly bowlers were left in tears when Mr Ross evicted them without notice and boarded up the clubhouse.
Club president Stewart Johnston has since repeatedly called for the local authority to intervene.
Backed
Ahead of the Monday February 1 meeting, to be held in the Village Hall, he told the News: "I am totally disgusted and disapointed at the whole affair.
"The community council has backed us 100 per cent but I would like the council to do more.
"We are in a hole and want to make people aware of the situation — we need to lever some pressure on the council."
Specific
Labour councillor Jim Gillies has called on SNP Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing, Paul McLennan, to "stop dithering" and step in to secure the sporting and social facility for the community.
Councillor McLennan said: "We have no legal powers to stop the owner demolishing the building — it's not our building, not our land, and Jim Gillies has not come forward with any specific proposals on this.
Full report in East Lothian News, January 29, 2010
“As this was a private agreement made between the bowling club and Rickie Ross the council cannot enter into any discussion — our hands are tied.”
The council press office had earlier commented: “Unfortunately the club did not discuss this condition with the council at the time and, as the council was not a party to the legal contract, it cannot be bound by this condition.”
Described by estate agent Remax as having the “potential for a nursing home,” Ormiston Bowling Club is on the market priced at offers over 300,000.
Bowlers at the club, which was established in 1929 and currently has over 50 members on its books, are, in the hope that a solution can be found before the bowling season gets under way in April, currently using facilities at Elphinstone Bowling Club.
Monday’s meeting is to take place at Ormiston Village Hall, starting 7.30pm.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Musselburgh
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -0 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: South west
