High praise has been heaped on staff who have been working hard to address concerns over the state of local bowling greens – despite a high level of vacancies within the department.
Councillors had previously voiced their dismay at the condition of greens in Markethill and Banbridge and asked for an update on what was happening and what could be rolled out.
And it was a case of ’no sooner said than done’, with Claire Duddy, head of climate, parks and sustainability, bringing a report back to this week’s environment committee.
In her comprehensive update, it was confirmed that independent assessments of each had been carried out.
In Markethill, the main issue “appeared to be a build-up of thatch across the green’s surface which may have been causing a slower bowling speed on the green”. In-house action was planned to remedy this.Some disease was present in the form of fairy rings which will be addressed at the pre-season stage. And a number of timber boards around the surrounds which have had deteriorated are to be replaced.
Other concerns at Banbridge were also highlighted with efforts and actions to address confirmed.
The reports did, however, raise further concerns over staffing levels within the department available to carry out tasks as needed.
Alliance Councillor Robbie Alexander referenced “vacancies and sickness levels” in relation to Banbridge but said there was no mention of staffing levels available for Markethill.
He asked if there was an “opportunity to maybe share resources across the two”.
Claire Duddy, head of climate parks and sustainability, accepted there were “some challenges within the team at the minute, particularly around fine turf and around supervisors and management cover”.
To that end, she added: “I have started the process of looking at that and if there an opportunity of centralising some of those services. We are also looking at other delivery models, whether we can bring in external providers to look at that as well, so that will be looked at in time but it will take a number of months to do.
“In terms of partnership agreement, that’s at very early stages. Again it goes back to the fact that we are really short of supervisory and management staff within the grounds maintenance team at the minute.
“There are challenges in terms of managing the day-to-day operations. To look at partnership agreements will take some time so I’m hoping that whenever I get back to a full complement of staff we’ll be able to do that.”
Under such difficult circumstances, there was recognition and thanks for what had been done in such a short period of time.
Independent Unionist Alderman Paul Berry – who recalled Cusher councillors raising issues at Martkethill and Richhill – said he was “confident that Claire and her team are dealing with this now”.
“They are a great bunch of people in these bowling clubs and very rarely will contact us. They just get on with it. But it had got to the stage where clearly there was more that needed to be done,” he said.
But Alderman Berry acknowledged that, as soon as they had contacted the officer, “she dealt with it”.
While there was “more to be done”, Alderman Berry told Ms Duddy: “The fact is you get it.”
He added: “It had sort of fallen by the wayside, the bowling greens and maintenance and what’s needed done. We were just sort of keeping on top of it and that was literally about it. But there was more that needed to be done to keep the greens right and to work closer with the teams out at Markethill and Richhill and other areas.”
Alderman Berry said the head of parks “immediately got it, dealt with it and started to meet the folk out there”, along with others, and thanked them for their action.
It had, he said, “provided a great reassurance to the folk in Markethill and Richhill”.
Said Alderman Berry: “I look forward to further reports as to how we get the structure right so that we’re on an even playing field, that there’s a quality right across the ABC area in relation to the bowling greens and to the service that’s provided, because there has been that breakdown in relation to service delivery in bowling greens.
“It’s work that’s ongoing, it’s a report that’s in front of us that I’ve never seen before.”
TUV Councillor Keith Ratcliffe also offered his thanks, adding: “Hopefully, once we get into the spring and summer months, the greens will be in a lot better condition.”
Lord Mayor Stephen Moutray praised too the head of parks and recognised the “considerable levels of absence within your department of senior management”.
“When councillors come to you with an ask I think it’s important we’re informed the level of absence that you have,” he added, and requested a ‘table of attenance’ – not naming specific names – to provide a “more accurate picture” of what the levels of absence are within the parks maintenance department.
Sinn Fein Councillor Mary O’Dowd reiterated earlier calls for priority for bowling greens.
She also hailed the “fantastic work” carried out while short-staffed.
But Councillor O’Dowd cited the achievements of home-grown talent David Copeland, recently crowned the 2025 World Bowls Champion of Champions.
“In relation to the bowling greens, I think personally they should be upgraded,” said the councillor. “We’re sitting now with a world champion in bowls and I think that’s something which should be recognised.
“David Copeland is renowned now around the world and for a small island of Ireland to have a world champion I think it’s amazing.”
