A private leisure company is hoping to turn a disused bowling green into a beach sports court.
The north bowls green in Preston Park is to be covered over with weed membrane and sand, while an all-weather surface will be laid on the south green.
Adam Radford from Brighton Active Lifestyle has applied to Brighton and Hove City Council for planning permission to make the changes.
The application says: “The proposal adds to the ongoing evolution of fitness, sport and facilities Preston Park now offers.
“[This is part of] the council’s initiative to reform and utilise old disused spaces to create new amenities for the local community.
“Public benefit is increased through the redesign off a space once used for sport which ceased, and now can be offered back out for more assessable health and fitness in close proximity to where they live, lowering the unnecessary migration and commute across the city for these facilities.”
Brighton Active Lifestyle was founded by Mr Radford in 2017, and is based from Fitnesshub Brighton in Circus Parade. The company currently leases the greens to hold fitness classes.
The company has already held talks with the council’s estates team ahead of submitting the plans.
So far, the application has attracted two comments from members of the public.
One, Neil Cranston, said: “This is exactly what this area needs, a chance for old and young to get out and enjoy team sports and keep fit.
“Low impact and promoting healthy lifestyle, as a regular user of Preston Park and a long time Brighton resident and business owner, I fully support this kind of proposal. We need more of this.”
Another, whose name has been redacted but who says they are a local playwright, said: “Excellent proposal. A unique concept to bring some of the sporting activities found on the seafront to Preston Park.
“As a long time Brighton resident this is exactly what the area needs. The seafront sports are so fully booked it’s often impossible to take part in them.
“This will increase the opportunities for people to actually take part in seaside sporting events in a safe, controlled and exciting inland environment.”
This article was amended on 23 April to change the details of the applicant.
Oh dear.
The sport only ceased due to any council input, but they can find the funding for this. A shame, I always liked the looks of bowling greens.
Perhaps it ceased because no one was playing it?
The council can’t force people to play bowls!
Funding for the conversion will be coming from the business submitting the application.
Will probably be over-priced and planning for a bar will ensue to make it viable for a private company to run. Privatisation of public space by the back door.
This is about social change, and there’s no stopping that.
Bowls clubs are no longer where it’s at, and a sand sports section for Preston Park will be very welcome. Similarly, in Hove the original five bowling greens have been reduced to two.
It’s also noticeable at Hove Beach Park that the new Padel tennis courts are way more popular, in terms of bookings and usage, than the traditional tennis courts which were recently re-furbshed.
All these outdoors facilities have their place, but times change.
The ‘private company’ involved in this project are highly responsible and ethical local business people who have brought a fantastic fitness community together in central Brighton. This will be a positive endeavour for the city and negative comments about anticipated bars and such like are a bit cantankerous and fun-spongey. We should welcome all exciting sporting projects that open up positive possibilities for a more fun, active and healthy community.