A 70-year-old bowls club will have to find £14,000 a year to survive amid a review being carried out by Southend Council.

Shoebury Park Bowls Club has launched a bid to attract new members ahead of council plans to review underutilised bowling greens across the borough.

As part of the review, bowls clubs may be asked to relocate and the council says the remaining greens will have to become self-managed within three years and there will be “no subsidy for the discretionary service”.

Club captain, Sue Marchant, said: “If the council is looking to amalgamate some clubs those that remain will have to finance their own green maintenance and it’s very expensive. I think the council quotes about £14,000 per green for the current maintenance. It would be a problem. There is no way the club could finance that.

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“I think all the park’s clubs would have to do this together and bring contractors in to maintain the greens and we think the cost would have to be spread to however many members there were in each club but it’s still going to be pretty expensive.”

Southend Council has insisted that the review is not complete and there “will be options for clubs”.

Ms Marchant added: “It is definitely a threat to the club. Each member of the club has to pay £138 for a season ticket so if it’s going to work out a lot more than that I’m sure there will be people who just won’t be able to bowl. It is a big threat and the more members we can get the better.

“We want to encourage people to take up the sport. It has dwindled in recent years. It used to be a big thriving club at one time. We have fewer members now and we haven’t got many ladies so we would like to see more ladies come along.”

Carole Mulroney, councillor responsible for environment, culture and tourism said: “We really welcome any bowls club that is doing a drive to get new membership because we want to make sure the clubs keep going and thrive.

“The review of the bowls clubs isn’t finalised at all and there will be options.”

The club, in Shoebury Park, is holding an open day on Sunday, April 30 from 10am until 4pm All necessary equipment will be provided along with complimentary light refreshments. Attendees need to wear flat sole trainers and comfortable clothing. Qualified coaches will be available. For more information, call Sue Marchant on 07563 799040.