The aim of this petition is to show Darlington Borough Council that bowlers and the general public who use South Park want to see the facility being opened back to the public. We want to safeguard the sport, the local clubs and give it back to the Darlington people who pay their taxes to use a public facility.

Currently we are restricted by paying ourfees to the Darlington Parks Association (DPBA). Our bowlers pay annual subscriptions to them, they use these funds to maintain Brinkburn Dene, Eastbourne Park, North Lodge and North Park.

Ironically 2 of these greens in the Parks Associations reign have closed. Also around 10 bowling clubs have ceased after over a hundred years history.

Despite their good intentions we feel within the next 5-10 years both North Lodge and Park will struggle to survive and only 2 clubs will. Conveniently this will be the 2 clubs that the DPBA Committee bowl for.

We as a club have found it difficult to have any 2 way conversation regarding issues with this Association and want to break free and use members fees for our Park. Currently the DPBA use NONE of our fees to assist with the South Park facility.

We think we can use it to help assist with repairs and upgrades to the facility and also refill the green which was only 10 years ago filled with bowlers.

Our club at South Park is starting to build relationships with other South Park Charities and are inviting groups (such as scouts, cubs)to the green for free bowling sessions. We would like to expand these initiatives, with financial backing we could advertise and start rebuilding which once was a great facility for park visitors.

PLEASE HELP US TO GAIN THIS FREEDOM BY SHOWING THE COUNCIL HOW MUCH THIS FACILITY WOULD MEAN TO THE TOWN TO SEE IT THRIVING AND AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE. IF WE CAN BE FREED FROM THE DPBA UMBRELLA WE CAN START WORKING FROM 2015 TO GIVE THE SPORT BACK TO THE DARLINGTON PEOPLE!