A POOLE bowls club is set to play its last game after 90 years after Borough of Poole withdrew its funding.

The last remaining members of the Alexandra Park Bowls Club in Lower Parkstone play Broadstone during the bank holiday after beating Ringwood at home last week 80-64.

The closure of the longstanding club follows a decision by the council at the end of last year to withdraw every penny of its £32,000 funding for the town's four outdoor bowls clubs over two years. With costs of around £9,000 a year just to maintain the green, the Alexandra Park club was facing a deficit of £7,000 this year alone.

Club secretary Robin Pullman said: "The council don't want the bowls club to cost them any money. When we took over the grounds they gave us some money to maintain them, but then they decided to pull it all in one hit.

"We can't fund it ourselves with the membership we've got."

"We've been very successful," Mr Pullman added. "We're in the top section, even though we've got a membership of just over 30. In the past we have won the Bournemouth and District League, and been the Champions of Dorset on a few occasions. But it's a lack of membership that's hampered us.

"The actual green, to maintain it to a standard with cutting and chemicals, is about £9,000 a year. That's £300 per member. Over the years we have tried to do all sorts to get funding. In the seventies and eighties we had about 80 members but with the attraction of indoor bowls, it's been dwindling."

Member for 22 years Vernon Singleton said: "It's all because there's no parking. Fair game most of these clubs are dropping off."

Anthony Rogers, recreation manager for Borough of Poole, said: "As part of an ongoing review of funding for sports and recreational facilities, we have been working with outdoor bowls clubs to enable them to manage their own facilities, without ongoing financial support from the council. Through changes to lease terms, investment in facilities and the development of additional income streams, most of the clubs will be able to run independently in future. However, it is regrettable that the committee at Alexandra Park Bowls Club feel unable to continue. We hope that club members will be able to enjoy playing bowls at other local facilities.”

The green was originally installed in 1923 with a lump sum from the council of £1,330. The club started in 1925 and the present pavilion was built in 1934 when it was only male members. Then in 1975 the ladies' section was created, but was disbanded in 2011 due to a lack of membership.