AS a member of Scarcroft Ladies Bowling Club and the Scarcroft Green Association, I am appalled that City of York Council is proposing to remove its green maintenance services from our greens and croquet lawn in 2011 (Bowls groups back action to save green, The Press, February 17).

Scarcroft men have been playing here since 1943, and the ladies joined them in 1964. It must be one of the oldest clubs in the city.

Over the years, visiting clubs from many countries have been entertained here, also some rounds of the York Open Tournament. These games are most enjoyable, and the visitors stay at nearby hotels and spend their money in our shops. The ladies hosted a club from Gloucestershire last year, and a Scottish club has been a visitor for the past two years and is expected again this year.

Ours is a minority sport, but one that can be enjoyed by young, elderly and the disabled. When we grow older we are encouraged to keep ourselves healthy by taking more exercise, thus alleviating pressure on our already over-stretched National Health Service.

We are a happy, friendly association and enjoy our sports, and I feel that if the council does not reconsider its proposal, we may have to disband. The friendship and fellowship that our clubs provide would be missed by many people.

Pat Bracken, St Nicholas Road, Copmanthorpe, York.

• The proposal to stop maintaining the bowls and croquet greens on Scarcroft Road does not seem to fit in with ideas of persuading older people to stay active.

The bowls and croquet clubs are very popular with older people: they have very good facilities and excellent greens – the croquet green is the only one in the York area.

Closing these clubs would deprive older people of two sports which they can play on equal terms with other people and would be a considerable loss to the York community as a whole.

Pat Jones, The Mount, York.

• IT beggars belief that York city council leisure chiefs plan to stop funding this year to Scarcroft Green association bowls club. This is the tip of the iceberg with regard to other leisure facilities. Considering this form of sport can be enjoyed by both males and females, not forgetting the disabled, in a healthy, social environment, both indoors and outdoors, all the year round and by all age groups, this actually should be encouraged at all levels.

It would seem to some short-sighted councillors that once you are past your sell-by date with regard to more strenuous sports, ie, football, rugby, etc, the only option is to put you out to grass, not unlike a tired old racehorse.

A great deal of emphasis these days have been made to promote a healthy lifestyle, and also to work until you drop and save, having to pay for one’s retirement pension from the Government.

Kenneth Bowker, Vesper Walk, Huntington, York.

• A City of York Council spokeswoman said: “The council will continue to maintain the green through the coming season. In the meantime, officers will work with the clubs involved to offer them an affordable and manageable way to maintain their own green, as other clubs in the city do.”