THE chairman of Ryedale Indoor Bowls Club is urging supporters of the facility to attend next week’s special meeting of Ryedale District Council.

An extraordinary meeting has been called in a bid to prompt a discussion of the decision to sell the facility, off Scarborough Road in Norton, which held its finals day at the weekend.

Bowling club chairman Tom Nairn said: “This is more than a bowls club, it is the home for many different activities, and the council meeting will be an opportunity for all regular users to turn up at Ryedale House and show the Conservative councillors their feelings for the place.

“Here is an opportunity for the Conservatives to show leadership in fulfilling their strategy of ‘Sport for All’ by supporting efforts in utilising the full potential that the centre provide.”

Mr Nairn said members had submitted proposals entitled ‘Harness the Potential’ to Ryedale District Council in February, at their request, which so far had not been formally acknowledged.

“No meaningful business plan can be prepared until Ryedale District Council quantify their support, or otherwise.

“Why the rush? It’s not as if the centre is running at a loss and costing the taxpayer money. We were paying reduced rent for a smaller area, but still paying the full commercial rate, while the reorganisation opportunities were investigated,” he said.

“Consigning this magnificent facility, with all the investment made by members and which has been very well maintained over the years at no cost to the taxpayer to the scrap heap, would be an act of political and civic vandalism.

“To sell a facility that would cost about £3 million to build today for £400,000 just does not make sense, especially when you have a clear statement to support sport in the community of Ryedale.

“Austerity is about trying to reduce costs sensibly, not cutting off much needed income streams. What does it cost the Tories to work with the members for one year? Nothing. If a sustainable plan does not emerge, that is not failure.”

Six district councillors – John Clark (Lib), Tommy Woodward (Lib), Sarah Ward (Lib), Robert Wainwright (Ind), Brian Maud (Ind) and Peter Walker (Ind) – have signed a motion to discuss the provision of indoor bowling in Ryedale on Thursday, May 9, at 6.30pm.

Di Keal (Lib Dem), mayor of Norton and district councillor, said: “I would encourage everyone who wants to save the Ryedale Indoor Bowls Club, not just bowls players but all the other groups who use the building, to attend the meeting and show the Conservative group on the district council just how strongly people feel about this much used and needed local facility.

“As councillors we all recognise the need to be prudent in these tough economic times, but the move to sell this unique facility is false economy and flies in the face of the council’s own new strategy on sport.

“I would urge my fellow councillors to think very seriously about this issue and have the courage and strength to accept that an error of judgement has been made.

“It is not too late to overturn this decision and assist the club to turn the facility into a top class sports and leisure facility for the benefit of all in Ryedale.”