TEN bowling clubs across East Lothian will have to maintain their greens from the beginning of April next year.

Currently, East Lothian Council is responsible for maintaining the surfaces at clubs stretching from Prestongrange and Port Seton to Fisherrow and Whitecraig (Deantown).

However, with the local authority facing a “significant budget gap”, the decision has been taken to stop maintaining the surfaces.

A letter was sent to the impacted bowling clubs at the end of July.

It said that from April 1, 2025, the council would “no longer provide greenkeeping maintenance services” to bowling greens across the county.

The letter continues: “We recognise the impact this decision will have on your operations and are committed to supporting a smooth transition during this period.

“We will continue to work with your club to help you identify alternative methods of maintenance and agree a plan that works towards an achievable handover.”

Club concerns

John Sharp, secretary of Pencaitland and Winton Bowling Club, was concerned that the change would affect the club “pretty badly”.

He added: “There has been communication from the council to say all green maintenance will end in April next year.

“There seems to be little doubt.

“There was some word three years ago that they were going to implement this but it seems to be happening now.”

Adam Martin, from Tranent Bowling Club, told the Courier that a further meeting between the club and the local authority was due to take place today (Thursday) and he hoped that more information would come out.

A spokesperson for East Lothian Council said: “In order to address the significant budget gap facing the council, elected members took a number of decisions at the budget-setting meeting held in February.

“East Lothian has received the third lowest revenue allocation per head as a percentage of the Scottish average.

“At the budget meeting, it was agreed to undertake a review of the management and maintenance of facilities.

“The council currently maintains bowling greens at Elphinstone, Fisherrow, Longniddry, Macmerry, Ormiston, Pencaitland & Winton, Port Seton, Prestongrange, Tranent and Whitecraig (Deantown).

“In March, the council wrote to bowling club committees highlighting that, due to significant financial pressures, we required to review our current operating model and explore alternative maintenance arrangements for bowling greens.

“There are a number of sports clubs – both within East Lothian and elsewhere – which already successfully maintain facilities which they use.

“We subsequently met all clubs and, having carried out a review, wrote to clubs at the end of July to advise that the council will no longer directly provide greenkeeping maintenance services to bowling greens from April 1, 2025, and will work with clubs to identify alternative methods of maintenance and support for a smooth transition.”