The aim is to have in Mablethorpe a state of the art indoor bowling centre built to National competition – or even International competition – standards. An all weather, year round venue that would be open and available to all which could go a long way to helping establish Mablethorpe as a 365 day a year holiday resort.

The town already boasts an excellent outdoor bowling green that is well used and is a favourite venue amongst visiting bowling clubs from across the region; they come from as far away as Derby, Nottingham and Leicester, but it is only available to play on for five months of the year – weather permitting. If we could provide similar facilities throughout the winter months it would be an asset to the economy of the town. Winter is ‘High Season’ for Indoor bowls which is just the time that the town suffers most from lack of tourist revenue.

The project sprang from a chance remark between a local businesswoman Shelagh Price and Mike McDonald the local alchemy coach who works to help new community and commercial projects in Mablethorpe.

( local alchemy is a Government backed initiative funded by the East Midlands Development Agency – EMDA - Mike is employed by the New Economics Foundation in London, details of which can be found on www.neweconomics.org )

The idea took root, a ‘working party’ was quickly formed, the inaugural meeting of the Indoor Bowls Project was held on the 14th February 2006 and a Committee was elected. This consists of a Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Youth Liaison Officer and six further committee members.

The first Open Forum meeting held on the evening of March 13th 2006 was attended by close to eighty people and there is a great deal of support for the project at all levels, including local councillors and several Bowls clubs in the area.

Following the meeting thirty five people put forward their names to act as volunteers to help with the scheme but more are always welcome, especially anyone with specialised knowledge – accountants, planners and local business people.

All of the Committee are dedicated volunteers with a great deal of enthusiasm but little experience of a project this size.
The first goal, therefore, is to raise the funds to ‘buy in’ the expertise that is needed to take this project forward and to that end a bid has been prepared to apply to the Alchemist Fund for a grant.
The application will go before the funding panel at the end of July.

The Mablethorpe and Sutton on Sea Sports Forum have awarded the project a grant of £500.00 to assist with “start up” costs, admin and publicity, there will be a publicity stand at the Mablethorpe show on July 16th and we will also be at the Sutton on Sea Carnival on Sunday 30th July 2006

Anyone interested in the project can contact the Secretary on 0780 4461 1182

Chairman: Shelagh Price - Treasurer: Keran Hosey - Secretary: Hazel Grainger