PENSIONERS fear they will be forced to abandon their long-established bowls clubs as Basildon Council considers closing them to save cash.

Members of three bowls clubs have been told the future of their clubhouses are at risk as the council considers forcing them to shut and move to Gloucester Park.

Members of the three clubs have been left devastated by the notice and fear being forced to move could leave them unable to access the facilities they need.

The three clubs impacted are Careras Bowls Club, based in Whitmore Park, and Mopsies Park-based clubs Mopsies Bowls club and Riverview Bowls Club, which have all held meetings with the council about moving to Gloucester Park.

Basildon Council has stated it is holding a full review of bowling greens which could see clubs move to one shared clubhouse and set of bowls lawns.

Riverview bowling club captain, Dave Charles, 80, said: “We can’t do this. We had a meeting yesterday at both Mopsies and Riverview. Almost 70 bowlers turned up and everyone was so upset. They are taking away something that benefits our health and our mental health.

“At our general meeting, we said, ‘you can’t take that away’ and the council proposed moving to Gloucester, which is impossible.

“The place is a complete shambles, the building is bad and there are insufficient places to change, and it is hardly big enough. Right now, it is being used by ten people. Our argument is getting rid of that, and Riverview will take them on.”

Mr Charles added that when using Gloucester before, the team has been badly affected by the lack of parking spaces but at Riverview, “both clubs can have teams there and the car park has room to spare”.

Nethermayne independent councillor, Kerry Smith, said: “We haven’t been told a thing, elected members have not been told and the clubs have been told they would move on May 1.

“They are absolutely gutted.

"The suggestion isof Gloucester Park is inadequate as that car park gets full and we are talking about retired gentlemen. They should be left where they are.

A Basildon Council spokesperson said: “We are undertaking a full review of our bowling greens as part of our annual budget setting process.

"We are consulting with local clubs currently on proposals to either consolidate some of the greens or to enable clubs to take private control of individual grounds.”