Club forced to move out of Shelf Park after bowling pavilion is closed

Shelf Bowling Club is hoping they will eventually get back home after being forced out of their clubhouse.
Shelf Bowling Club, Shelf Hall Park, ShelfShelf Bowling Club, Shelf Hall Park, Shelf
Shelf Bowling Club, Shelf Hall Park, Shelf

The building has fallen into a state of disrepair and has been closed by Calderdale Council until further notice.

The club has temporarily moved to Brighouse while a solution is found, with the cost of repairing the clubhouse being estimated at around £50,000.

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Tony Wells, secretary of the club, said: “We reported the clubhouse to the council several times about the roof leaking and nothing was done about it.

Shelf Bowling Club, Shelf Hall Park, ShelfShelf Bowling Club, Shelf Hall Park, Shelf
Shelf Bowling Club, Shelf Hall Park, Shelf

“Now it’s been declared unfit for purpose and we’ve been locked out.

“They gave us a window when we could move our stuff out, but there’s big boards and trophies, there’s just nowhere to put it all.

“For the £50,000 that’s been quoted I think you could build a new Shelf Park.

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“We would like to keep the clubhouse going, we’ve been there a long time.

“Hove Edge have been absolutely tremendous, letting us play there effectively for free and letting us keep our name.
“The council have said they are looking at it again and will forward some alternatives to us, so we’ll have to see. But they don’t want to spend any money on it. It’s very sad.”

Mr Wells says the roof of the clubhouse has collapsed, but that the council is maintaining the bowling green in their absence.

The club has around 30 members and has been in existence for about 60 years.

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David Wager, from the Friends of Shelf Park, said: “Calderdale Asset and Facilities Management have agreed not to do anything for at least 12 months.

“They’ve got to produce a paper that gives all the options, of which one will be demolition, but we are hoping one will be a Community Asset Transfer. That’s what we are working towards so we can arrange our own refurbishment.

“The prices are a bit outlandish but we’ve got our own quote for £7,50-0, which comes with a seven-and-a-half year guarantee.

“We could do the interior work ourselves with the help of volunteers, with a view to running a cafe and installing some toilets.”

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When asked who confident he was that an asset transfer could be achieved, Mr Wager said: “On a scale of one to ten, probably six.

“But the big thing is getting this 12 month delay, which gives us some breathing space.”

Councillor Peter Caffrey (Shelf and Northowram, Con) said: “The clubhouse has fallen into rack and ruin, it’s pretty dilapidated.

“The council has condemned the clubhouse but we’re hoping to get them back if we can come to some arrangement with the council.
“An asset transfer has been discussed but there needs to be some funding in place before that can happen.

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“The figure for repairing the clubhouse is astronomical but I’m sure we could get that down if we used local contractors.

“I’m doing what I can to help them. I can’t see them bowling there again this season but I’m hoping we can do something to get them back there again.”
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Resources, Coun Jane Scullion, said: “The clubhouse at Shelf Bowling Club is in poor condition, with the building suffering significant deterioration to the extent that it unfortunately needs to be closed.

“The Council is considering next steps in partnership with local community groups and options are being discussed for the future of the building.”