Bowls club bosses today blamed Castle Point Council after they missed the boat and failed to net thousands of pounds of Lottery funding.
Castle Point Bowls Club hoped to scoop between £65,000 and £70,000 from Sport England to pay for a new clubhouse.
Bowled out - Brian Eaton with the clubhouse he wants replaced Picture: ROB BROWNE
But club chairman Brian Eaton claimed officers failed to process forms asking for the cash before the organisation put a temporary halt on handing out grants.
Mr Eaton said: "I was told the officers would process all the forms for us and negotiate in our name for the money from Sport England.
"But it does not seem as if they have done anything. We were supposed to have a meeting on May 22, but that was cancelled.
"When I asked why, I was told it was because Sport England had put all applications for grants on hold until November.
"If the council had processed our forms in time, our application would at least be on the list of those organisations waiting for grants. But as it is, we have got nowhere."
Mr Eaton is desperate for a new clubhouse to be built on the council-owned green at Woodside Park, off Manor Road, Benfleet.
Ray Howard, the council's chairman of highways and leisure, said: "I am so sorry to hear about this and I will certainly be investigating.
"I will be delighted to meet with bowls club members to discuss the issue."
Published Thursday, May 29, 2003
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