Bowling club could make way for NHS centre

A Surrey bowling club could be demolished after more than 100 years to make way for an NHS health centre.

Elmbridge Borough Council is in discussions with the NHS over a sale of the land, part of Elmgrove Recreation Ground, to provide a site to replace Walton-on-Thames Community Hospital.

Michael Atkinson, treasurer of the Walton-on-Thames Bowling Club, said it would be "an awful shame" to "wipe away" the club's 103-year history.

Council leader Mike Rollings said the council was "continuing to work with the bowling club to find a solution".

Mr Atkinson said the bowling club was "not just a stuffy, old-fashioned bowling club" and had members aged from 11 to 93, reported the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

He fears there is not an alternative site for the club in the borough, and is not keen to merge with another nearby club.

"You wouldn't ask Manchester United or Manchester City to merge. Same with bowling," he said.

Walton Central ward councillor Gregor Macgregor said the health hub was a "really good thing" but could be "tricky" to finance.

"There is a risk the development won't happen and we will end up without a bowls club and without a health hub," he said.

But Mr Rollings said the proposed facility could "future-proof" the area's health services.

"This hub would offer much-needed GP services, maternity services, mental health provision, dermatology specialists, rehabilitation and many other preventative and well-being services," the council leader added.

A spokesperson for North West Surrey Alliance, a partnership of local councils and NHS organisations, added that the site provided an opportunity for the area to "have a first class health infrastructure and receive integrated health services".

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