Use it or lose it – councillors call on residents to use bowling green

Councillors have called on residents to make use of the bowls clubhouse in Oakdale before it’s too late.

Currently the bowling green at Oakdale Recreation Ground isn’t maintained by Caerphilly County Borough Council due to a lack of use – but local councillors want to change this.

Penmaen councillor Roy Saralis said: “I’m appealing to Oakdale residents to find out if people want to join the club in order to save the green.

“If by the end of this month I can get 20 people that would be happy to play on a casual basis, then it would warrant the council bringing it back in to use.”

Cllr Saralis said if the bowling green continued to go unused, then the council is likely to find an alternative use for the area.

Despite Cllr Saralis’ concerns, the council has said it has “no plans to remove or close the facility”.

Former members of the Oakdale bowls team moved to Islwyn Park due to a lack of members. Since then, the facility has not been used.

Fellow ward councillor Jim Sadler said the green has “gone down hill” since the departure of the former members.

He added: “It would be nice to get the youngsters interested in bowls.”

Cllr Saralis said: “This is a sport that can appeal to all ages, grandparents can take grandchildren along and they can play. It’s great for the summer because it’s a gentle activity.

“But this is not a facility that can be resurrected once it’s gone.”

The Labour councillors urged anyone interested to contact them via their council email addresses – roysaralis@caerphilly.gov.uk and jimsadler@caerphilly.gov.uk