Outraged residents in Yiewsley say dismantling their bowls clubhouse and taking it to nearby Sipson to be used as football changing rooms is an "insult", and are demanding it is kept and refurbished to be used by the community.

But Hillingdon Council says the building is "surplus to requirements" and that it plans to build houses along with leisure facilities on the site.

On Monday (June 11) a heartfelt petition was debated which was complied by Yiewsley Park and Community Group and presented to Hillingdon Council demanding it does not remove the former clubhouse of the Yiewsley and West Drayton Bowls Club.

The council plans to move it to Sipson Recreation Ground, where the council says it is needed for use by the West Drayton Explorers, who are currently using a metal container as a changing room.

It says the former clubhouse has been shut since 2015 after the club decided to hand it back to the council as it could not keep the clubhouse open due to low membership.

But 395 incandescent residents handed their petition to the council on April 20 and it was considered by the council's cabinet member for finance, on Monday.

Campaigners want to save the bowls clubhouse from being dismantled (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

It is part of their ongoing battle to save parts of Yiewsley Recreation Ground from housing developments.

Their petition reads: “We the undersigned, petition Hillingdon Council to retain and upgrade the bowls hut for use by Yiewsley residents and community groups.

"The bowling green and hut is a Yiewsley facility, needed, wanted and with
residents ready to use. If the council is true to the tag line putting residents first, then please do.

"Bowls or boules can be played by any age safely. It is a gentle sport. The hut would be also used by a youth football club that currently have to travel to other wards to practice.

"The proposal to take away a facility for another ward is insulting to them and Yiewsley."

The campaigners say the bowls hut has been a feature of the recreation ground since 1929 when the first bowls club was formed.

They say there are community groups, including a youth football group in Yiewsley, who want to make use of it.

But on Monday, the council's cabinet member for finance, Jonathan Bianco, refused to accept their case and rejected their calls for consultation.

The bowls hut that residents want kept where it is

A report prepared by council officers, states the council has invested in the rebuilding of facilities used by three local bowls clubs, Deanes Park Bowls Club, Bessingby Park Bowls Club and Cowley Bowls Club, as well as providing a new car park for Hayes Bowls Club.

It says: "The council has committed funds in the last five financial years to rebuild or refurbish bowls club facilities across the borough.

"Yiewsley and West Drayton Bowls Club would have been offered the same opportunity. However, due to lack of membership and local community interest, the bowls club was unable to remain open."

It adds: "There is a huge increase in youth football across the breadth
of the borough.

"This has resulted in surges in attendance at local football clubs at weekends in particular, with some clubs having up to 300 to 400 young people playing football throughout their age groups.

"As part of the wider proposed Yiewsley development site options appraisal, the former Yiewsley Bowls Club building was considered surplus to requirements.

"The council was approached last year by a number of football clubs wishing to extend and improve their allocated pitches, requesting a new and improved clubhouse and changing facilities.

"West Drayton Explorers Football Club were the nearest club to Yiewsley requesting support to develop a new club house.

"This club has been a great success in the south of the borough, receiving Football Association accreditation as a community."

The council is expected to continue with the proposed relocation.

The council says it is working on plans to develop housing and supported housing along with leisure facilities at the former Yiewsley Bowls Club site, and there are proposals for a wider development for other sites in Yiewsley including Yiewsley Library and its adjoining car park, and the former Yiewsley pool site.

It says opportunities for consultation will take place as part of the planning application process once detailed plans for the sites have been
developed.