Dear Members
Last evening I received the following communication from the English Indoor Bowls Association. The following is an abbreviation that outlines how it will affect our club.
Dear EIBA Correspondent,
We have unfortunately not received any formal response to our queries relating to the restrictions to playing Indoor Bowls under the new 3 Tier System, starting on 2nd December 2020.
Therefore, as promised, please find attached a DRAFT Guidance that outlines what each Tier will mean for your club and members. The specific restrictions that we have requested more clarity on for the sport are highlighted in red along with what we have asked.
For Clubs in an area of high risk there are changes required.
Organised indoor bowls will only be permitted if it is possible for people to avoid mixing with people they do not live with (or share a support bubble with). *
For supervised Under 18 and / or Disability specific bowls activities these are able to take place with larger group mixing e.g. Fours format.
Club bars and restaurants can remain open between the hours of 5am to 11pm but are only allowed to have people from the same household / support bubble on a table. Alcohol is only permitted to be sold with a substantial meal. Last orders have to be at 10pm with guest leaving the venue by 11pm.
*The EIBA is seeking clarity on what this actually will allow Indoor Bowls Clubs to provide.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW.
Yesterday morning our Management Committee met to discuss what should happen moving forward. It is unhelpful that the Government have not replied as yet to requests from the EIBA.
It is our intention to open in some capacity and as a minimum the conditions set out above. Indeed its pretty disgusting that crowds of up to 4000 people can attend a football match, yet we are not allowed to have up to 36 people bowling on our green.
Until we hear further from the EIBA whether arrangements can be more relaxed all booked rinks, leagues and competitions are temporarily suspended.
Please do not use the booking system until you are asked to do so.
We cannot stress enough that these prohibitive conditions are laid down by the Government and not us.
A provisional opening date of Monday 7th December has been set for reopening but we will confirm this no later than this Thursday, when we hope to have had a further update from the EIBA.
Finally we have been asked by some members how the club finances are doing during these unfortunate times. I can assure all members that the club is financially sound and this is thanks to those of you that paid their subscriptions in full whether you intended to come into the club or not.
Please take care, a vaccine is on the horizon and hopefully in a few months we can get back to some normality.
Best Regards
Dave Parks
Chairman
