Portobello Indoor Bowls & Leisure Centre closing?

[wangi]

[seanie]

Bowling in general has been in decline for years. People aren't taking it up the way they used to.

[Sceptic]

A facility of that size must have other uses. Basketball? Remember that the facilities at the "new" PHS was criticised for lack of spectator seating. There must be other sports clubs in need of indoor facilities.

[portyallmydays]

This is devasting news for the bowlers in East Edinburgh. Yeah, bowling memberships have been on the decline but this now leaves only one indoor bowling centre in Edinburgh. I have been helping run the junior section at PIBC for the last few years and I know the kids are gutted at the news. They have all made new friends through the club and its great to see how they have developed, winning the East of Scotland League and winning Scottish Titles
Its also a place for the senior members to meet up and play their games and have a coffee. It now means travelling out of town (or to Bainfield) to get a game of bowls in the winter.
Another gym required?? Yeah right.
Stuart

[jb5370]

More here about the closure - or rather, redeveloping for different use.

http://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/news/ ... rts-centre

[wangi]

[portyallmydays]

Today's Evening News article....

http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-eveni ... -1-2913929

[Sceptic]

Do Bowlers need all of the current rink? Could a portion be retained? I must confess I have never set foot inside the building, but I am sure the more uses that it can be put to, the more people will use it.

[portygeoff]

Ideal for handball which suffers from a lack of large enough halls, virtually none! There is sports money sloshing about to get better centres.

[StarVanMan]

Closure of the bowling club doesnt make sense to me. Overall, the population is ageing, people need more chances to stay active and socialise. Some sort of shared use of the space would be great. An improvement, in fact.

[portyallmydays]

A meeting was held yesterday between representatives of PIBC and Convenor for Culture & Sport (CEC), Richard Lewis, and local MSP, Kenny MacAskill. A lot of good points were put to them which have not been thought of during the process of changing the centre to a Gymnastics Soft Play, and there is still hope that there will be a bowling centre there after the summer.