Elderly bowls players may have to give up the sport they love as two clubs could close down and others could merge, saving the council £25,000.

Devastated players were told last night that council-funded Morden and Merton bowls clubs would not re-open next season although a final decision will not be made until a cabinet meeting in December.

Tina Smith, secretary of Merton Bowls Club, based in the Joseph Hood recreation ground joined other committee members and players from clubs including Merton Park, Wimbledon Park, Mitcham and Raynes Park for the meeting at the council offices in Morden.

The council manages six bowling greens and a croquet lawn and spends £90,000 a year on these facilities.

The council is considering closing two bowling greens – Joseph Hood rec Bowling Green and Morden rec Bowling Green.

Ms Smith said: "The council has failed us.

"The council dictates how much we charge our members and if those prices weren’t meeting the costs, they should have been upping it so the divide wasn’t as big as it is now."

The club has about 40 members, with an average age of 70 years-old. Morden has 17 members.

Wimbledon Park Bowls Club based in Wimbledon Park itself, will remain open.

Award-winning club secretary Barry Willingham said: "Merton will move in to Raynes Park on a green share basis or merge. Mitcham are ok for a year but have been told to increase membership.

"It was a shock but it was expected."

Merton Council’s cabinet member for community and culture Councillor Nick Draper said: "We think it’s important to make sure services for children and vulnerable adults who are most in need take less of a share of the cuts so sadly this means there have to be more cuts in other areas.

"We have worked tirelessly with the bowls clubs, advising them on how to promote their clubs and how they could join forces so they are better value for money for council tax payers, but their numbers have remained stubbornly low.

"With so many other difficult decisions to make which affect more vulnerable people, we think it’s fair that the council reduces its subsidy to the very small number of people who use these two greens."

Sandra Vogel, of the Mitcham Cricket Green Community and Heritage group said: "Any loss of sporting room is bad news for the borough.

"Bowls is a very important part of the community.

"It would be sad to see Mitcham Bowls Club negatively affected by funding cuts."

The council manages six bowling greens and a croquet lawn and spends £90,000 a year.

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