Council to put £250k into bid to bring World Bowls Finals to Warwick district
£250,000 is set to be put forward in a bid to help Leamington Spa become the "Wimbledon of bowls".
Warwick District Council's (WDC) cabinet has approved the funding to help Bowls England bid to host the 2027 World Bowls Finals at Victoria Park.
A report discussed by councillors last week said bringing the event to the area could contribute £4.8 million to the local economy.
The £250,000 will be taken from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund - which WDC is receiving less money from this year - and pay for part of Bowls England's bid for the tournament.
"The World Bowls Championships will bring significant economic, community and sporting benefits to the district and provide an estimated economic benefit of circa £4.8m," the report said.
"It will raise the profile of the area nationally and internationally and deliver a lasting legacy."
It continued: "Hosting the World Bowls Championship would bring significant benefits to Leamington, Warwick District and the wider region.
"There will be two areas of benefit, economic and community.
"The number of visitors to the local area is likely to support local businesses particularly those in the retail and hospitality sectors, provide international profile to Leamington as the home of English bowls as well as attracting people from local communities to try the sport."
Victoria Park is home to the Aviva National Finals, and has hosted the Women's World Championships (1996, 2004) and the 2022 Commonwealth Games Lawn Bowls and Para Lawn Bowls.
Some 30,000 people are said to have attended the 2022 event.
Speaking at last week's WDC cabinet meeting, Cllr Jim Sinnott said: "As a district we have got vibrant aspirations.
"So when things like the 2027 World Bowls Finals come along, there is an opportunity.
"It states quite clearly in our corporate strategy that we will entertain national and international events and sports, which this fits firmly in.
"If we want to be the Wimbledon of bowls then why not?
"It is a big chunk, it is a big piece of work, but we have got to be creative to make this happen.
"In order to do that we will be giving £250,000 of UKSPF money to Bowls England, that will give them the space and time and money to put their bid in for the world finals in 2027."
If Bowls England is successful in bringing the finals to Leamington Spa, the event would see the event split over 13 days.
Some 14 events would be held covering women, men, women para, men para and mixed para teams and competitors.
WDC's report said 24 nations would take part with 312 players coming to the district as well as 130 support and management staff.
The funding got backing from across the political spectrum at last week's meeting, with some councillors eager to ensure the financial benefits are split across the district and not kept just for Leamington.
Cllr Richard Dickson said ahead of the meeting: "It would be great to welcome back the World Bowls Finals to its rightful home.
"It would be helpful to know more about what plans exist to spread the economic impact of investing £250,000 as widely as possible across the district?
"There's a risk that the vast majority of the benefit is felt in Leamington and far less felt in the other towns and parishes in the district."
The council's response said: "Completely agree with the direction and expectation you've set out.
"Our initial focus has been securing the nationals, as this needed to be pulled together at pace due to the timelines for the governing body and SPF but we fully recognise there will also need to be a programme of work developed with Bowls England to drive forward the wider benefit across the district.
"The aim to achieve the wider benefits is why we've got this decision covering two portfolio areas as we want to look at both wider community, cultural and economic benefits."
See the full council report here.
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