BOWLERS are urged to attend a crucial meeting next month to discuss the future of a club which is “hanging in the balance.”

The bowling club at The Beech Tree pub in Barnton has been in existence for 60 years, and has 70 active members aged 17 to 84.

However its future is in doubt following the sale by Punch Taverns of the Runcorn Road pub to Lancashire-based family business James Hall and Co Ltd, a wholesaler and distributor for SPAR.

Bowling club chairman Roger Farley, who lives across the road from the pub, became aware of who had bought it only after seeing work being undertaken to secure the premises and the site.

James Hall company estates surveyor Nick Jones told club chairman Roger Farley in an email: “We are sorry the bowling club will be unable to continue, and if we could offer an extension to the club we would have liked to have done so.

“We have plans to redevelop the site as soon as possible, subject to the necessary consents, and unfortunately it is not possible to offer you an extension.

“Furthermore, we were surprised this had not been communicated to you by the previous owner. We purchased the property on condition of complete vacant possession so we were surprised you had not already been given notice to vacate.”

Mr Jones was responding to an email from Mr Farley in which he expressed the club’s “extreme disappointment” with James Hall’s decision to “stop our use of the bowling green with immediate effect without any consultation or discussion.”

The club has eight teams, which play in the Mid Cheshire League, Mid Cheshire Ladies League, Norley League and Norley Afternoon League.

Mr Farley said he had been requested by the new owners to remove the club’s equipment as the club would not be able to continue because the site would be secured and locked.

The club has removed any items of value, the pub has been boarded up, and fencing has been put up to secure the site.

The bowling club’s committee meets next Tuesday, December 16, to discuss the way forward.

Mr Farley said the options on the table would be to challenge the decision by the news owners that the club could not continue at the site, for the club to move to another venue in Northwich, or to close the club and to dispose of its funds.

He added it was hoped the committee would agree on a recommendation to put before the club’s extraordinary annual meeting at Barnton Cricket Club at 7.30pm on Friday, January 2.

“The pub has been here for 75 years, and it would be very disappointing if sporting activity in Barnton was further reduced,” said Mr Farley.

“The club’s future is in the balance because the new owners want us out, and we are hoping as many members as possible will attend the annual meeting as we will be discussing the future of their club.”

The Guardian contacted Punch Taverns for a comment on the club’s consultation concerns, but no-one was available as we went to press.