Hilson Park Bowling Club’s future uncertain
JOHANNESBURG - HILSON Park Bowling Club representatives met with Ward 74 councillor Jack Cooper to discuss the club's lease agreement with Joburg Property Company (JPC).
Club member Tom Binns said, “We do not have a long-term lease agreement with JPC and the last bit of correspondence we had with them was in April.”
According to Binns, the club based in Highlands North is currently on a month-to-month lease with the property company and requires a long-term lease. “We maintain the property and have funded new facilities over the past few years, and need a long-term lease agreement as it is difficult to entice new members to join the club, as there is no certainty that we will be able to have use of the property in the near future as our lease may not be renewed,” added Binns.
Cooper, who is trying to assist the club said there was a possibility that the lease of the property could become open to a public tender, which would create even more uncertainty for the club.
Binns concluded, “We should have first right of refusal if the lease does go out to tender because the club was founded in 1939 and is a fully-functional members only club. We have 50 members and we operate like a family.
“We recently raised money for one of our members who is battling cancer, as well as adopted rescue animals from the SPCA. One of our employees, Geelpoi Mokone has been working here for 41 years.”
