PLANS to demolish a 100-year-old building in Noble’s Park and replace it merely with a paved area have sparked furious resistance from a Douglas bowling club.
John Marsden, who is a member of the Noble’s Park Bowling Club, said the organisation had used the building as a clubhouse since 1911 but they had been given notice to vacate by the end of September – a deadline extended from May to accommodate the bowling festival – and the structure was earmarked for demolition soon after.
‘This building was a gift to the people of the Isle of Man 100 years ago from Henry Bloom Noble and to demolish it is unthinkable,’ he said.
Councillor Stephen Pitts, chairman of the council’s leisure services committee, said the council was not prepared to foot the cost of repairs to the building – which council estimated to be in the region of £250,000 – and so demolition was the cheaper option.
But Dr Marsden disputed the sums involved, saying the building was structurally sound and adding that the council had not had proper quotations and the work specified went way beyond what was really required.
‘Even if new PVC windows and doors were fitted, which are not really needed, the cost ought to be less than £30,000, which would cover roof repairs, rewiring, building repairs and painting,’ he said.
In fact, he said, expert assessment by an electrician had found a full rewire was not necessary and the cost of the electrical work would be £400 to £500 at the most.
Moreover, he said a proposal by the council to erect a sports and events hall costing at least £500,000 on the nearby tennis courts completely undermined their claims that the demolition was purely cost driven.
‘This is the central venue for bowling across the island and, in the future, the bowling festival may have to be hosted from a portable cabin,’ he said.
Mr Pitts insisted that the building needed extensive renovation, though he admitted it was not unsafe and, because of the cost involved, his committee had voted for the cheaper option of demolition. He said there was currently no budget allocated to build the proposed sports and events hall and it remained just a proposal. But he suggested the bowling club might like to take over the clubhouse at a peppercorn rent from the council and take responsibility for the building.
‘I’m sure I would be in favour of that,’ he said.
Dr Marsden said he still felt the council was shirking its responsibilities to repair the clubhouse but added: ‘It does at least offer a glimmer of hope.’
