Vandals targeting town's bowling greens

Vandals are targeting a town's bowling greens and abusing those who challenge them, it is claimed.

Steve O'Dare, chair of Skegness-based North Parade Bowling Greens CIC, said the grass had been damaged by bikes "skidding all over the place", concrete blocks had been thrown and an equipment store broken into.

"It's making it very difficult for us to play bowls on there and enjoy doing so because of the damage," he said.

Lincolnshire Police said the three greens had experienced anti-social behaviour "for a number of years" and confirmed the last reported incident was in June. Several young people had been given warning letters, the force added.

O'Dare said: "Most people who play are fairly elderly. When we've spoken to the young people they've given us abuse, called us names."

The greens, which cost £20,000 a year to maintain, host the annual national championships of the English Bowls Federation, said O'Dare.

The North Parade Bowling Greens CIC, a local community group comprising volunteers, took over the running of the bowling greens from East Lindsey District Council (ELDC) in January.

The greens are used from April to September, with two Skegness clubs hosted there.

O'Dare said the situation was "hugely frustrating" and described how the group would find litter and marks on the greens several times a week.

He added events held on the greens "generate hundreds of thousands of pounds into the local economy" but the damage was making it "exceptionally difficult" to try and expand facilities.

"We just need people to understand the problem that they're causing us and stop," O'Dare added.

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