SUPPORTERS of Ryedale Indoor Bowls Club have said there is a ‘glimmer of hope’ the facility could be saved.

More than 150 people including members, non-members and local councillors, attended an open meeting at the club, off Scarborough Road in Norton, on Sunday. Tom Nairn, the club’s chairman, said he was delighted with the turn-out.

He said: “A number of good points were made which we hope will get through to the Tory councillors and encourage them to sit round the table with us so that everyone interested can search for a solution.”

Mr Nairn said some of those present had pushed for more hostile action by considering legal means or approaching the local government ombudsman.

He said: “We managed to contain their enthusiasm and go for the more decent and humane way first and we now need to submit a fresh number of proposals for the council to have a look at.

“There was also a glimmer of hope from the chairman of the council’s policy and resources committee who agreed to look at the proposals.”

Mr Nairn said the club had been severely damaged by the decision to sell the site last September which had led people to cancel bookings.

“There now needs to be a transition between what has been and the multi-activity centre the facility could be,” he said.

“The club is an asset which has a lot of potential. There is a lot of work to be done but hopefully now it really is onwards and upwards.”

Members of Ryedale District Council voted to sell the site following a report which pointed out that the club’s survival had only been secured by the council halving the annual rent to £10,000.

Coun Di Keal (Lib Dem), town mayor and a Norton ward member on the district council, said it was great to see so many people turn out to support the bowls club.

She said: “There were people there from several other organisations who are regular users and it became clear that the building is highly valued as a community venue in Ryedale as a whole. “It is vital that the members of Ryedale District Council who voted for the sale listen to the views expressed and rethink their decision. There are creative ways forward that would ensure the building could be kept for community use and I would urge my fellow councillors to support officers to work with the committee and other members and users who are determined to save the facility.”

Coun Geoff Acomb (Con), chairman of Ryedale policy and resources committee, said: “If the chairman and his committee want to come back to the council with some proposals we will set up a meeting to discuss them.”

Coun Luke Ives (Con), a Norton ward member, said: “Over the course of two hours, I listened to the views and arguments of so many passionate users of the club, and I was taken aback by the unquestionable wider-community value that the club provides and the will of the community to fight to keep the club alive.

“While there are still many issues to resolve, I believe that the time has come to reconsider the decision. I will feed back the comments made on Sunday to the Conservative group and I will report back with a letter in the Gazette next week.”