Bowls before 2021 ends in Tiers!
Post date: Nov 26, 2020 1:48:16 PM
Stamford Indoor Bowls Club's hopes of opening again this year have been dashed by the latest government Covid-19 restrictions placing the town and the South Kesteven District Council area in Tier Three.
Indeed the whole of the county of Lincolnshire being subject to these restrictions from December 2, means that all 11 indoor bowls clubs in the county must also remain closed.
It's a sad blow to the officials and members of the Stamford club whom, under Covid-secure regulations including its current face coverings and social distancing regulations, had hoped its bowlers might continue their league and social bowling programmes at least until Christmas, then hopefully, re-attract those members who failed to join in September.
However, even with the government re-considering it's tiered system on December 16, the club has decided that even under Tier Two it would not be financially viable to re-open.
Says club chairman Keith Rippin: "The possibility of re-opening was dependent on the tier
level in which we were placed. In Tier Three, it means we are legally obliged to remain closed as organised indoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes cannot take place apart from disability or educational purposes and supervised activity for under-18s.
"The position will need to be reviewed at some future point but at a meeting today of the management committee it was felt that because under Tier Two it is only possible to operate with families or bubbles, it is not financially viable to open at that level either.
He added: "I would like to thank all directors, management committee and members for their support during this challenging time for the club and for the work taken to make the club as Covid-secure as possible. As soon as we are able to re-open again, we will and that work
will not have been wasted."
FOOTNOTE: The club regrets to announce the death on December 1 of club member Don Crawley. Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.