THE closure of Radcliffe Civic Suite, the Suite that has been losing the least money and keeping open the one losing the most money, the Elizabethan Suite, is just typical of the way this council think.
All these proposals have arisen in the past, I know because I was employed there for 22 years being appointed by the old Radcliffe Council (a real council) in February 1974 as the hall superintendent.
I am retired now, but I am Chairman of the Radcliffe & District Short Mat Bowling League. This league has been hiring the Civic Suite over the last 25 years. We hire the hall on two nights a week during the period September to March each year.
Thus we provide bowling facilities for all age groups, although the majority of bowlers are the older end. We have over 200 bowlers taking part with some people coming in to watch the proceedings. The two nights cost us over £6,000 a season for the hire of the hall, also there is the cost of the equipment which is expensive.
The Government say the older people of this country need more exercise, so what do Bury Council do, stop this by closing down a facility for exactly this.
If this closure comes about it will be the end of another sporting organisation in Radcliffe, it will be practically impossible to find a venue that has a floor flat enough and large enough to accommodate our sport, so, instead of helping us to progress with this sport and pastime Bury Council are trying to close us down.
So all you bowlers who participate in bowling just consider who you put the little “X” against at the next election.
Alf Smith Chairman of the Radcliffe & District Short Mat Bowling League Great Hall Close Radcliffe
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