WELLINGTON Bowling Club, which was founded more than a century ago and which has 125 members aged between 13 and 92 who play regularly, is planning a £50,000 improvement to its indoor bowling rink which adjoins the town’s sport centre.

The project involves replacing the rink’s asbestos roof, which is leaking, and installing new lights, Wellington town councillors were told at their December meeting when they unanimously agreed to make a grant of £2,500 towards it.

The council was told that the bulk of the funding – £43,000 – would come from the Viridor Credits Environmental Company, with the club contributing £2,100. To qualify for the grant from Viridor the club had to raise £5,000 from third party contributions such as the town council.   It was hoped that Taunton Deane Borough Council would make a similar third party contribution.

Proposing the town council’s grant, which was recommended by its finance committee, Cllr Andrew Govier said the club was doing very useful work in the town by getting elderly people out of their homes and playing at the club during the winter and summer.