Gourock Park bowling club plans to go before councillors

Gourock Park Bowling Club is seeking permission for a new building next to, and to the west of, the existing pavilion at its premises on Larkfield Road.

The club's application calls its current council-owned clubhouse "sub-standard", and says it is damaging its long-term sustainability.

The proposals were lodged with Inverclyde Council in April.

Planning officials have a standard period of two months to reach a decision on any application which is not deemed to be of major significance – and with officers from the authority having not made a decision by the June 11 deadline, the club and its agents have now appealed to a group of councillors to reach a verdict on the proposals.

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A report prepared for a meeting of the authority’s local review body (LRB) states that the application would have been refused, if it had been decided by officers, because of concerns around the likelihood of more on-street parking near the club.

The council’s planning team has asked the LRB to dismiss the appeal and refuse permission.

The report for next week’s meeting states: “The applicant has not identified any parking to be provided with the development and has advised there is not suitable space for additional parking or adequate turning within the site or within the park.

“The applicant has advised that members currently park on the road leading to the club from Larkfield Road within the park and utilise further street parking on Larkfield Road.

“The head of service for roads and transportation advises that not providing any on-site parking is unacceptable, as the road through the park offers pedestrian passage, which is used as a route to school.

“The head of service also raises road safety concerns about overspill parking onto Larkfield Road, which could lead to cars driving on the opposite side of the road due to parked cars.”

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The club’s agent, Bruce Newlands of Gourock-based Kraft Architecture, states: “It is envisioned by the bowling club that the new building will be replacing the old building, which is now in a state of disrepair, is impractical/overcrowded and is inaccessible for disabled members.

“The group don’t envision the new building contributing to any growth in membership; they see it as being the main clubhouse with the old building serving as a store/changing space only.

“The size is related to allowing them to play indoor bowls during the off season which they can’t currently do in the existing building.

“The new hall proposal has been developed in response to greater demand from existing members for winter activities and to provide more accessible changing facilities with integrated toilets for privacy, a fully accessible toilet and kitchen servery for the main hall – all of which they lack in the existing building.

“Membership numbers are limited by the available bowling green space available which remains unchanged.

“The club reports that they have never in 30-plus years received any complaints about parking in and around the club.

The Gourock Park application points out that the large car park on Drumshantie Road is only a short walk from their clubhouse. (Image: Google Street View) “During this time, a large new car park has been built a short walk away on Drumshantie Road, and bus routes stop at Larkfield Brae/Reservoir Road, only a 100-metre walk to the clubhouse.

“Refusal will effectively condemn the club to remain in a sub-standard, council owned, clubhouse that doesn’t meet accessibility standards, has poor privacy standards and does not enable members to continue bowling practice during the winter months, damaging the group's long term financial sustainability.”