More than 1,000 people have signed a petition urging Gedling Borough Council against pushing forward with plans to redevelop the Richard Herrod Centre that could leave an indoor bowling club with no facilities for over three years.
The Gedling Indoor Bowls Club have set up the petition following proposals to redevelop the current Carlton Forum Leisure and Richard Herrod Centres into a new, combined, purpose-built Carlton Leisure and Wellbeing Community Centre on the Richard Herrod site.
The club claim the council has refused to renew the club’s lease, ‘creating an atmosphere of insecurity and frustration’.
A public petition to protect the centre’s six full-size rinks has been set up and gathered over 1,500 signatures.
Club members also concerned about the proposals protested at the Gedling Borough Council meeting on Wednesday (23) at Gedling Civic Centre.
Campaigners urge the Council to: Reconsider the proposed redevelopment plans , Protect the legacy and purpose of the Centre and its six regulation rinks , Support competitive indoor bowls, community health, and long-term inclusion
“Bowls is more than a game — it’s our lifeline,” said one member who didn’t want to be named.
“We’ve been left in limbo while the Council behaves like demolition is imminent, when they haven’t even secured planning permission or funding. There’s no realistic prospect of any building work before 2028 — so why force us out now?”
This is marginalising a whole sporting community of competitive and casual bowlers. People who rely on this sport to keep them healthy both physically and mentally. The camaraderie and friendships created playing bowls guards against people becoming socially isolated.
Nottinghamshire County Councillor Jim Vernon, Chair of the Governance & Ethics Committee, who has been advising the group. said: “This club is a model of inclusion and excellence.
“These members are not asking for handouts. They’re asking for fairness, transparency, and a voice in decisions that directly affect their wellbeing.”
When a consultaion on local leisure services was launched, Gedling Borough Council said: “Across the borough, many of our existing leisure facilities are now ageing, increasingly costly to maintain, and unable to meet modern expectations. These buildings face mounting repair needs, limited accessibility and growing operational deficits.”
“This is more than just investment in buildings. It’s about investing in people, places, and possibilities, while ensuring we can secure financial sustainability for both our statutory Council services and our leisure and community facilities. We aim to create a future where everyone can access the support, services and spaces they need to live well.”
You can find the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/save-the-richard-herrod-indoor-bowls-centre-carlton-nottingham
Quoting a councillor who was part of a duo who thanked the people of Calverton for getting them elected in Carlton is laughable, Gedling Eye. Check your election videos on Facebook as it is there. You can hear people laugh. Is he sure this isn’t Calverton Leisure Centre?