New lease secures future of Hawick bowling hall

Teviotdale Leisure Centre in Hawick. Photo: Stuart Cobley

Charity Live Borders, already responsible for the running of the adjoining Teviotdale Leisure Centre, opened in 1982, is now taking over management of the bowling hall too.

The bowls hall, home to Teviotdale Indoor Bowling Club since its opening, was leased out by the old Roxburgh District Council to Walker Homes (Scotland) in 1985, but that old local authority was superseded by Scottish Borders Council in 1996 and the 35-year lease for the hall expired last year.

The current council’s executive committee has now approved plans for it to be added to the list of leisure facilities leased to Galashiels-based Live Borders, handing over responsibility for maintenance duties.

The bowling club will now sub-let the Mansfield Road hall from Live Borders and, once Covid-19 restrictions permit, it’s hoping to get back to business as usual and produce further world-class talent to follow in the footsteps of Julie Forrest.

Galashiels councillor Euan Jardine, the council’s executive member for wellbeing, sport and culture, said: “Scottish Borders Council, Live Borders and Teviotdale Indoor Bowling Club recognise the importance of the bowling centre as an important sporting and social facility not only for Hawick but for the wider Borders too.

“I’m sure the centre will continue to go from strength to strength and can help to develop future world champions like Julie Forrest, who only last month celebrated more success, winning the mixed pairs at the World Indoor Bowls Championships in Norfolk with partner Stewart Anderson.”

Ewan Jackson, chief executive of Live Borders, added: “We are really pleased to confirm these new arrangements, which I’m sure will provide much-needed security for the club and its members going forward.

“It also further demonstrates our commitment to services in Hawick. The centre is immediately being sub-leased to the bowling club, who will continue to run this excellent facility, which I’m sure will continue to be well used once coronavirus restrictions are eased.”