Croquet champs’ pavilion appeal
CROQUET champions in Bishop Auckland are urging local councils to help them repair their pavilion.
The Auckland Croquet Club has been based at Henknowle Recreation Ground for 10 years but say their pavilion and changing rooms are in urgent need of repair.
Jane Pringle, chairman of the Croquet Club said members, many of whom are elderly and in some cases infirm, had patched up damage caused by vandals, break-ins and storms but that replacing it should be a priority.
She said it had also been used by a local football team but they moved out as the pavilion had fallen into too bad a state.
The croquet club also maintains the lawn.
Ms Pringle said the club had been in discussion with Wear Valley District Council, now Durham County Council, since 2004 about allowing them to officially take the pavilion and lawn over to enable more grant applications to be made.
However, no formal agreement was reached and Ms Pringle is urging Durham County Council to make good on the informal agreement as well as imploring Bishop Auckland Town Council to make repairing the pavilion a priority.
She said: “The lawn and playing of croquet has a high profile as the playing area is very visible from the bypass and does provide an attraction for the area.
“The club has a high profile having won the local league several times including the current year.
“It has some international and national players in its rank and has provided for the County Durham team.
“Hopefully Durham County Council will be prepared to honour the commitment.
Repairing the changing rooms and the pavilion should be a priority and we hope the town council will give Auckland Croquet Club their support.”
Last month, town councillor Ann Golightly urged her fellow councillors to make an effort to smarten up the towns’ “drab” greens including Henknowle.
Councillors agreed to make repairing the pavilion a priority, especially as there had been complaints from local residents affronted by the sight of footballers changing into their kits.