A GROUP of residents in a “beautiful” Dundee neighbourhood have gone to war with their local bowling club — over claims that members are carrying out a litany of anti-social behaviour.
Dudhope Bowling Club has applied to the city council to allow outdoor drinking at its Adelaide Place premises, but the local authority has been inundated with objections from people, including the local minister and a university professor, who claim that club members are “rude” and even “dangerous”.
In a letter, the Rev Marion Paton, of St David’s High Kirk, claims people using the club “are often inconsiderate and sometimes downright dangerous in the way that they park”, adding: “They can also be quite unpleasant to local residents.”
She also claims that “quite clearly some are not fit to drive either”.
More than a dozen other objectors have sent nearly 30 pages’ worth of letters to the licensing board.
Prof John Rouse, a Dundee University lecturer, described it as a “beautiful, mature, old, residential neighbourhood”, adding: “The only times that significant noise levels are evident…are during bowling club events.”
James and Rosemary Butler, who live in nearby Upper Constitution Street, said: “Here, bowls is played loudly and with vigour. It is noisy, animated and often raucous. Age has not deprived this elder generation of their capacity to shout at the top of their voices.
“There are no respectful tones. Alcohol-fuelled cheers, tactical advice, and running commentaries are shouted aloud.”
Another objector, Janet Shrimpton, 56, told the Tele: “Our daughter’s room backs on to the club and the noise is keeping her up at night — she is still at school. I understand why they want to do it but it isn’t fair.”
However, one letter of support rejected the concerns of others. It said: “I highly doubt that by allowing guests to drink outside it will suddenly turn the corner of Fingask (Street) and Adelaide (Place) into some sort of open-air, OAP, Asbo-inducing, drinking orgy.”
Janet Hood, the club’s licensing representative, said that members strongly denied the accusations.
She said: “The membership demographic is mostly aged over 70 — there are very few members under 40 and some in their eighties. Some of the issues mentioned were raised by some neighbours last autumn and were considered to be unfounded.”
Ms Hood said she had not received copies of the objections yet, but insisted members were well-behaved. She added: “I have consulted with the city council’s licensing standards officer and have been advised no complaint has been received by them and they have not been made aware of any complaints made to partner agencies such as the police and the city council’s environmental protection service, with whom they work closely.”
One club member, who asked not to be named, told the Tele: “The club has been a ghost town for the last few years. I’ve no idea what they are referring to with these drink-driving claims. There is no one at the club with drink-driving offences.
“They are completely wrong about the club. No one drink-drives here.”