Bowls club in Surrey fighting for survival
Walton-on-Thames Bowling Club is at risk of closing due to plans to turn the site into an NHS car park
A petition to save Waltham-on-Thames Bowling club has hit over 600 signatures.
It comes as council plans to turn the area into an NHS hub were submitted in April.
The club is over 100 years old and is used as a community hub, hosting quizzes and other social events, as well as being home to a darts and bridge club.
"Community over concrete"
The details of the plans involve demolishing an existing NHS site in the area to relocate and upgrade to the site situated on Elm Grove.
Michael Atkinson, who is the Treasurer at the club, says that he doesn't understand the logic behind the decision and that it's wiping away 103 years of history.
Michael is also spearheading the campaign to save the club, one of the slogans behind the campaign is "community over concrete".
Michael says that the strong response to the petition 'really shows the strength of feeling from the area of Waltham-upon-Thames'.
"We're not opposed to a NHS hub in Waltham-on-Thames, what we're objecting to is that we don't think it needs to be built on existing green space."
A statement on the club's website says they urge Elmbridge Borough Council to reconsider the decision to close Walton-on-Thames Bowling Club and to recognise the invaluable contributions it makes to the community.
It adds that the closure of the club would be a significant loss to Walton on Thames and its residents.
On the council plans, they say that they also acknowledged the impact on the Walton Bowling Club and agrees to continue to consider alternative options for the Walton Bowling Club.