A BATTLE over the future of a bowling club on the southside of Glasgow is rumbling on – as plans for 40 flats have been submitted despite a community bid to keep sports facilities on the site.

Members of Mount Florida Bowling Club voted to close their club last year, deciding to dispose of the land to Noah Managements and Developments Ltd.

Now, an application has been submitted, on behalf of the club and the company, asking for permission to build blocks of flats.

But campaigners at Mount Florida Community Trust have already submitted a proposal to Glasgow City Council to use the land for tennis, bowling and a children’s play area – and it has received the support of council leader Susan Aitken, a local councillor.

“I feel that the proposal will ensure preservation of green space and amenities in the area and will be beneficial for the ward,” she said.

Fears over the future use of the land have sparked a passionate response within the community. More than 200 representations were received by the council after the trust’s application was submitted.

A majority were in favour of preserving the area’s greenspace but many bowling club members objected to the proposals.

The club and Noah Managements and Developments Ltd say the trust has no credible business plan and, as it does not own the land, has made an “entirely speculative” planning application.

Its proposals would require “a far greater level of resource, maintenance and staffing than the existing bowling club”, they add.

Over the last 16 years, membership has dropped from 250 to 77, the club says, adding measures to attract new members have failed. However, some supporters of the trust’s plans say they have been unsuccessful in their attempts to become members.

Sport Scotland has said there is a “clear excess of provision” for bowling in the area.

The club states its proposed development would provide “much-needed homes, alongside an expansive area of community open space, which will be accessible to local people without the need for membership”. It insists an “equivalent area” to the existing bowling greens will be provided as open space, which could be used for “informal outdoor sports, growing space and play space”.

However, the trust, which also intends to rent the clubhouse for functions and provide changing rooms, says it has a three-year business plan which the objectors haven’t seen.

“We consider that the plan is both credible and viable,” it adds.

The opposing parties disagree over whether the trust could be successful with a bid to the Scottish Land Fund to take ownership of the land.

Councillors Archie Graham and Anna Richardson have also supported the community trust’s proposals.