EFFORTS to prevent indoor bowling being stopped at a council-owned facility have failed with the leader of the local authority wanting to explore the potential for an ice rink in the building.
BCP Council had already taken the decision to 'pause' the bowling offer at Bournemouth Indoor Bowls Centre from April for 12 months.
More than 600 people signed an online petition calling on this action to be called off.
Now the council's chief operating officer has formally taken the decision to cease the service and find arrangements for different short and long-term uses of the space.
A report on this move says the council wants to deliver leisure activities that support a range of demographics within the community, with a list of possible activities for under-fives right through to over 50s published.
Stopping Bournemouth Indoor Bowls Club's use of the facility in King's Park after more than 25 years will remove an £80,000 'budget pressure' and allow officers the chance to increase revenue with alternative offerings, the report says.
The bowls club has been given formal notice by the council following an assessment of the conurbation's facilities by external consultants.
The decision report says: "The long-term use of the facility will be determined as part of the wider harmonisation of leisure centres project. The future management model and capital investment requirements are yet to be determined."
It says a review of indoor bowls needs and demands by firm Strategic Leisure Consultants advised capacity in terms of facilities exceeded the demands of indoor bowling across the local authority area.
The decision will impact "around 130 bowlers", although the report says most "have or will use alternative venues", with reduced annual fees negotiated on their behalf.
"It accepted that some may not be able to travel to the alternative venues," it adds.
"Alternative activities for this demographic will be considered within the future use arrangements."
Council leader Cllr Philip Broadhead said a decision was taken last year to "pause" the bowling offer during "spring and summer" due to "the continued fall in the number of users".
Cllr Broadhead said the decision had now been formalised to facilitate "other meanwhile uses" pending a "larger analysis of other leisure uses here and elsewhere".
He said the council was taking the opportunity to work with other community groups to open the facility up for other leisure uses in this period, including gymnastics and dance clubs, and a cheerleading group in Kinson who no longer have a home.
"A variety of health, wellbeing and fitness classes are also being considered. This will keep the site buzzing with activity to an even wider range of residents and groups squarely for leisure," Cllr Broadhead said.
"Furthermore, as this is an extremely large venue and with some considerable private interest from operators looking to open an indoor ice rink in the region, I will be asking our council officers to consider whether the building may be suitable for an ice rink offer.
"I'm constantly asked by local residents whether we can facilitate a new indoor ice rink, and coupled with some serious interest received from experienced operators, this could be just the opportunity we've been looking for."
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