Dundee West Member of Parliament Jim McGovern hit out at the Council’s "indiscriminate cuts" this weekend as he visited the carpet bowlers at the Lynch Centre in Dundee.

Mr McGovern met the bowlers at the Lynch centre on Friday at the time that they usually play bowls and was surprised to see that the hall where they used to play was lying empty in darkness.

Local bowlers Douglas Cargill and Stan Barrie, who have been bowling at the Lynch centre for 20 years showed Jim McGovern the hall where they used to play.  They explained to him that the hall is available but the problem seems to be that there is not enough staff available to roll the carpets out for the bowling.

Jim McGovern said

“It seems ridiculous that 200 local bowlers can no longer play carpet bowls in Dundee because Dundee Leisure and the Council cannot organise for two or three members of staff to roll out the carpets or offer them alternative accommodation.

“The hall is sitting in darkness and the bowlers are sitting at home. It beggars belief that Dundee Leisure can’t get their act together to sort this out.

“The Council and its management organisation Dundee Leisure should be doing all they can to give people access to sport and activity. How much would it cost for a member of staff from another sports centre to drive to the Lynch centre for half an hour to roll the carpets out?

“It is an example of the indiscriminate cuts that the SNP Council is making across the City. For what must be a very small saving, the Council has denied 200 people their weekend leisure activity.

“I will be writing to the Chairman of Dundee Leisure this week to demand some answers.

“The Council cannot continue to disregard what is important to the people of Dundee as they cut budgets.”