Anger at bowls plan to take over Leamington public park

Members of Warwick District Council’s planning committee last week gave their consent to allowing Victoria Park to become a temporary bowling centre during the Bowls England National Championships from the end of July until the beginning of September from next year until 2016.

The decision came after the council had received 18 letters of objection to the plans, from people who were unhappy that the park would effectively be closed to the public and who feared problems arising of parking congestion and noise.

Objectors also said that there had not been enough time for people to comment on the application.

David Adams, who lives next to the park in Archery Road, said: “While we are pleased that Leamington has attracted new, prestigious and revenue-generating activities, we are very disappointed by the lack of communication and apparent lack of coordinated planning undertaken by our local authorities.

“Residents have been very poorly informed about the expanded use of the Victoria Park and there has been no feedback from the council’s consultation exercise in July 2012.”

Mr Adams pointed out that Bowls England had announced last November that all national championships and international trials and events will be hosted at the park from 2014, but it was not until April that the council put up a notice about the plans for the temporary change of use - giving neighbours only three weeks to send in their views.

But council planning officer Liam D’Onofrio had encouraged councillors to approve the plans, saying: “The women’s nationals are understood to provide an economic boost to Leamington and there are significant economic benefits to the town having secured the hosting of the men’s nationals as well.”