Bowling club merger: When east meets west

The Wanganui East Bowling Club may be moving to town. PHOTO/Bevan Conley

The possible merger of the Wanganui East and Laird Park bowling clubs is gathering pace with strong support from both sides driving the proposal.

Wanganui East Bowling Club president Kerry Ridgway the next in a series of meetings will call for a vote by members asking for a yay or nay to the move.

"That will probably be about late November," Ridgway said.

"We are limited to expand here in Wanganui East, while Laird Park has dwindling numbers and loads of room. It all comes down to the future of bowls. We are the biggest club in numbers and successes in Wanganui and at a meeting about six weeks ago involving up to 80 members there was strong support for the merger.

"But it's getting down to the nitty gritty now and everything needs to be done properly. Laird Park is overwhelmed with happiness about the proposal and we have the support of Sport Whanganui who has indicated it will help facilitate the merger if it gets the go-ahead. It will be an amalgamation with everything right down the middle."
Ridgway said Wanganui East had around 110 playing members and about 20 or so social members.

"Much will depend on the outcome of a series of meetings to sort things out. We own our own facility in Helmore St, while Laird Park is leased from council. We need to be satisfied we don't get kicked out after we move."

Ridgway said there were also plans in place to invest heavily in the Laird Park complex once the Wanganui East club was sold.

"We are keen to build an indoor complex with artificial greens at Laird Park with and eye on attracting a business house league and to have a venue for all clubs to host major tournaments when the weather is against us."

Wanganui East is a solvent club with financial security and the land in Helmore St is a valuable slice of real estate.

"We own about 5000-square metres that could fit about eight houses we are told, so it must be worth a bit of money. With that money and support from community grants we are confident our plans for an indoor complex can go ahead for the benefit of the sport in Wanganui.

"But before any of that happens we need the support of our members. This club has been going since 1922 and has a long history."

Laird Park president Judy Titter said from the first moment the amalgamation was proposed by Wanganui East, members had been 100 percent behind it.

"Our numbers had been dwindling, but this year we have had a surge in numbers and we now have 41. But from the very beginning we have been behind the merger," Titter said.

"When we talk about it we talk about 'the new club', 'the new colours', 'the new name'. Kerry is right, there are things yet to be sorted out, but the support is there. We are for anything that strengthens the sport both here and in the city."