BULMERS Bowls Club are still facing an uncertain future with building work on their eagerly-awaited new clubhouse still to get underway.

When cider-maker Bulmers was bought out by Scottish & Newcastle Breweries, the firm's sports ground was bought by builders Persimmon for residential development with the proviso that the bowls club, which has been in existence for more than 60 years, would remain.

Persimmon, who were keen to keep the club at the heart of the development, promised to update the clubhouse as the existing building fell short of meeting current requirements over health and safety as well as disability access. To facilitate the development, the club moved out in August 2004 for demolition to take place.

Subsequently, with no electricity or water, as well as health and safety issues due to the building work continuing nearby, it has been impossible for the club to use the green in 2005 and all matches have had to be played away.

"With no water available for the irrigation system, the green has suffered badly," said club secretary Terry Knight who has taken over as green-keeper after staff employed by Bulmers were transferred to other duties.

"It takes me about three hours to hand-water it."

Now, however, the situation has become more confused with the revelation that the planned new pavilion and the former Bulmers cricket ground would become part of the new Whitecross School complex and the sporting facilities would be managed, on behalf of Herefordshire Council, by Halo.

Stepnells, who are building the new school, have taken over the construction of the new clubhouse.

In the meantime, the bowls club are still incurring costs as they do their best to maintain the green in readiness for a hoped-for return next year.

"We have to pay out £300 to have the hedges cut and then it will cost another £4-500 for the top dressing required for the green."

"We have had amicable talks with Halo and with Persimmon who have agreed to rebuild the sides of the green, which is worth about £1,000 to us," said Knight.

"But our members are understandably restless and we are not happy, to say the least. It is a bad situation."

It is hoped that a meeting in the near future will resolve usage of the new pavilion and Bryan White, secretary of Herefordshire Sports Council and chairman of Halo's board of trustees, said: "The idea is that the pavilion will jointly serve the cricket pitch and the bowling green.

"The school will, however, have its own changing facilities. Stepnells will contract Halo to administer the sports facilities out of school hours."