Glasgow club ‘facing closure’ urges council to back housing plan

Declining membership and the need for major roof repairs have left a West End club facing financial losses.

Plans have been submitted to Glasgow City Council requesting permission to build 16 flats for private sale on the current tennis courts at Kelvindale Bowling and Lawn Tennis Club on Baronald Drive.

They also include proposals to provide two new tennis courts and improvements to the clubhouse.

The joint application has been submitted alongside Abercromby Homes Ltd, who would build the 16 apartments, and the club has sent a supporting statement, calling on council planners to give the scheme the green light.

It reveals the £350,000 received from Abercromby would cover the £124,000 needed for repairs to the leaking clubhouse roof and help to redevelop the sports facilities.

The statement adds the plan is “so critical to sustain the future of the club” as the bowling section “suffers from a lack of members” and there is only one fully playable tennis court, which doesn’t meet requirements for league play.

“The two courts are red blaes and severely dated and we therefore can’t qualify for any official leagues due to the on-going costs of upkeep.

“We took the decision in 2019 to engage with Abercromby Homes Ltd about the potential disposal of these underutilised tennis courts.

“The sale would enable the development of one new complete tennis court and one multipurpose playing facility to allow for junior tennis facilities which would be built in the northern portion of the site, currently a disused overspill car park.”

The Kelvindale club, founded in 1928, also hosts community events in the clubhouse, but “membership has declined which has severely impacted on revenue and reserve funds”. There were only 43 members last year.

“We hope to reverse this trend with the funds generated through the land sale,” the statement adds.

It reveals that, without Covid grants totalling almost £19,500, the club would have returned losses of over £5,900 last year.

A projection by the club’s accountants shows the club “would not be sustainable with forecasted deficits” and would have to close within five to ten years. However, it adds with the money from the sale, the club would be sustainable for “a minimum of 20 years”.

If the land sale goes ahead, the club would also invest in the new courts, refurbishing and extending the clubhouse and advertising and marketing.

The statement adds: “The club is not doing this to generate a profit but to continue a well-used community facility which has been financially drained over many years due to the declining membership and increasing costs of repairs and maintenance.”

“All the funds received will be invested back into the Club to ensure future generations benefit.

“There is a very real danger that if this proposal is not approved, the entire club will find itself in the position in the short-medium term where it cannot sustain the facility and clubhouse, even as a single bowling green, and may have to close.”