IN response to recent complaints on the letters page regarding the intolerable condition of Bolton park bowling greens, I would like to add the following comments whilst totally agreeing with the sentiments.

Whoever in the Parks Department is responsible for this fiasco should be reprimanded for not showing due care and diligence to the upkeep and maintenance of park bowling greens.

Casual comments such as "nothing can be done now" not only suggests a total lack of knowledge, but a couldn't care less attitude, which shouldn't be tolerated.

Officials should know without people having to resort to these pages what state our bowling greens are in, and that they have been in decline from lack of competent maintenance for some time. A damp winter has been a catalyst for moss to infest most grasses, whether home lawns or bowling greens, officials have neither been proactive at the end of last season or reactive at the beginning of this season in conducting remedial work, which is why there is so much anger and discontent within the bowling fraternity.

Not many facilities exist for our ageing population, bowling being one of the few, and from a health and relaxation point of view we should be encouraging their participation, not discouraging them because it's either not enjoyable or causing them great discomfort to play on these disgracefully maintained greens.

You bowlers out there who 'whinge' every-time you play on the greens do something about it, speak up, write a letter, make a phone call. Finally you League representatives in Bolton please bring your influence to bear before it's too late and we either lose these facilities all together or they become unplayable, and that's doesn't appear to be far off!

Paul Pover

High View Street

Bolton

Astley Bridge Park Veterans Bowling Club