WITH regards to your recent report (December 15) on the Tavistock town council meeting where a decision was made to decline the request from the Sir Francis Drake Bowling Club for financial help towards the upkeep of the club premises, may we as a club give some following figures towards the reason for our request to the council? Yes we do pay a peppercorn rent of £1 per year and we do get some help with the insurance needed to protect the clubhouse and green. The club was already pursuing seven other avenues for funding as well as asking the town council for help. This does not include the most generous support given to us by local businesses in the form of sponsorships. A quick guide from club records show that the club paid approximately £20,000 to the town council in the years 1988 to 1993 as rent etc for the use of their premises. In 1994 after the lease was signed with give and take on both sides, the town council gave the club £18,000, as stated in your report, to enable the club to take over the upkeep of the premises. The money was given in reducing increments over a period of time to enable the club to buy equipment, place earth surrounds on two sides of the green and add various building improvements to the fabric of the buildings. In the period 1994 to 2005 the club has paid out between £75,000 and £80,000 to keep the bowling club as a going concern. At present, the green costs a minimum of £3,000 a year to enable good bowling conditions plus other various costs to keep the club covered for any legal requirements under health and safety acts etc. The club wish to thank the town council for their continued support over past and present years and hope that the dialogue between ourselves may continue at its present pleasant levels. Ernie Piper Chairman, Tavistock Sir Francis Drake Bowling Club
