FEARS have been raised for the future of one of the town's most historic sporting clubs.

Reading Bowling Club hit back at plans to remove unrestricted weekend parking in parts of Redlands Ward.

On weekends, the club relies on Morgan Road for its members to park. Opposition players are encouraged to use the club's small car park.

However, Reading Borough Council plans to change the current parking restrictions on Morgan Road, meaning members will not be able to park on the road during game times.

Reading Bowling Club member Janet Allen, said the club fears for its future if the proposals are pushed through.

She said: "It would effect the club's income.

"We make money when we host friendly matches on weekends.

"We are a self-financing club.

"Things will be extremely difficult for us if we lose that source of income."

The Kendrick Road bowling club, which was first established in 1803, has claimed it could be forced to stop weekend games if the plans go ahead.

Reading Bowling Club has more than 90 members, with an age range between 13 and 90 years old.

In a letter to Reading Borough Council, a spokesman wrote: "Reading Bowling Club has a long history of 215 years and has been operating from our Kendrick Road site since 1892, before cars were around.

"It is part of the heritage of Reading and we are very proud that is has been an important amenity and recreational resource for the local community.

"We also have one of the best bowling greens in the country so we host a lot of competitive as well as social bowling with some of our bowlers reaching national and even international status.

"If we lose the current unrestricted parking at weekends then we will not be able to offer weekend games, which is of course when many people have more time to play."

RBC plans to turn the area of Morgan Road close to the junction of Kendrick into double yellow lines, meaning no waiting at any time.

Meanwhile, the northern bay has a proposed change from single yellow lines Monday to Friday (8am until 5.30pm) with an afternoon loading ban to single yellows between 8am and 5.30pm, Monday to Sunday.

The proposals were expected to be passed at a council meeting last night (Wednesday).

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