Urgent cash appeal to save Waterloo bowling

And with no grant aid or national revenue streams available, the Fylde coast bowling community are being asked to do all they can to save the 113-year-old South Shore stadium.

Five-time Waterloo Handicap winner Gary Ellis told The Gazette: “We are relying on the goodwill of the community. Until we can find a route to the level of funding we need there will be no next season. We have to face reality and focus on finding a way.

“Ideally we need the work completing over the winter. We don’t think we can have the stadium or the stand occupied next year without that work being 90 per cent done.

“We want a new 10-year lease to continue bowling at the stadium and the work will need to be done as soon as possible to secure that lease.”

The necessary work includes replacing all steel barriers in and around the south stand and the rear cladding, replacing steel barriers on each side of the west stand, dismantling the whole north stand and replacing it with a covered standing area, rebuilding the damaged east stand wall and replacing the steel barriers and gantry around the Waterloo Shop.

In the longer term, the west stand would need a new roof at a cost of around £50,000.

Ellis added: “We were hoping these costs would be far lower and we are struggling to see a way forward unless a number of wealthy benefactors are willing to club together.

“Alternatively, there may be people in the bowling world with businesses who could undertake the work for a far lower amount, either at cost or at a loss to their business.

Anyone wishing to help is also invited to participate in a monthly prize draw, which is currently raising £1,600 a month at £10 per head.

The Waterloo’s struggle for survival is nothing new. A public appeal for donations was made last year when a new bowls management team was formed, headed by Kirkham-based Ricky Cochrane.

They successfully staged the jewel in the stadium’s crown, the Autumn Handicap, last year but the pandemic has seen all competitive bowling around the Fylde coast abandoned for 2020.

Gary said: “We don’t believe contributions will be able to come from the British Crown Green Bowling Assocation, the county associations, the owner of the hotel or any grant funding.

“We think the reality is that they would need to come from people in the bowling community and we appreciate this is a massive ask.”

Anyone wishing to get involved or help in any way can do so via the Waterloo Bowls Blackpool page on Facebook or write to [email protected]