Members of a bowls club which has existed for more than 100 years are worried that teams will no longer want to play them after parking charges were introduced.

This week, people heading into Rickmansworth town centre will now have to pay to use the town’s short-stay car parks.

But members of Rickmansworth bowls club believe that permits that allowed members and visitors to park for free for longer than two hours in the short-stay car parks should be reinstated.

The permits expired at the beginning of April and new ones have not been issued, according to club president Alan Johnson.

Harrow Times:

Pictured in the Rose Garden car park. Ironically, on the day, the machines were out of order.

Three Rivers District Council has adopted a new scheme whereby shoppers can park in short stay car parks for one hour for free but will have to pay to park for a further three hours.

It will cost £4 to park for four hours.

The new scheme came into action on Monday.

Ernie Gray has been involved with the bowls club for 32 years.

He said: “Socially the club is so important. Bowls is an important part of our lives and it’s a pity that these charges have been introduced.

“I’m worried that not only will we lose members but bowling teams will no longer want to come and play us if they hear they have to pay to park. We don't pay to park when we play matches away. Some of us are here three times a week so that’s £12.

“We made our comments during the consultation period and said we don’t support the changes.”

People using the bowls club have parked in the short-stay Rose Garden car park which is one of the eight car parks to have charges brought in.

Vice captain Mike Eaton added: “We don’t think places of recreation should be impacted. It’s worrying what the future may hold. We think that these passes should be reinstated.”

Harrow Times:

Rickmansworth bowls club, situated in the town centre

The members have received the backing of two Rickmansworth Town councillors.

Conservative Cllr Paula Hiscocks said: “We encourage our residents to be active and healthy. Bowls is a great way to socialise and it almost feels like they are being punished now that they have to pay.

“These charges are totally prohibiting people socialising. Penalising a club which has operated since 1903 is not how the council should operate. Charging an extra £4 each time they play bowls is outrageous.”

Cllr David Sansom, who sits on the leisure committee at Three Rivers said: “I am angry that this ill thought out parking policy is going to have an adverse impact on Rickmansworth bowls club.

"At the committee, we spend so much time trying to encourage residents to take up sports.

“In our budget earlier this year, the Conservatives focused on the parking charge policy that the council has now implemented.

"Our residents knew it was a mistake and we all know that free shopper parking is what has kept Rickmansworth open for business over the years.”

The Conservative budget earlier this year, which was not passed, proposed to keep two hours of shopper free parking and allow people to park for free on a Saturday in a council car park, which is where the bowls players currently park.

Harrow Times:

Rose Garden car park where people can now only park for free for one hour but can pay to park up for four hours

Three Rivers District Council and leader of the council Sara Bedford could not comment at this stage due to purdah.

Lib Dem Cllr Bedford has previously told the Observer: "The council has been running parking operations at a loss for a number of years, which is now not allowed.

"In order to bring the finances into balance, limited restrictions are being introduced. Three Rivers will continue to offer free short stay parking, which again very few councils offer.”