Campaigning to save Mount Florida Bowling Club, the green heart of our vibrant community
Mount Florida’s green heart
The historic Mount Florida Bowling Club on Carmunnock Road has been at the heart of the community since 1909. The Club closed in October 2019 due to reduced membership. Since then the site has been closed while developers made a planning application to build flats on it.
In July 2022 the owner/developer Noah made a second application to build flats on the site. We are contesting this, again, as the community still shows a strong need to preserve the green open space as a whole for many beneficial uses. Despite the now dilapidated state, we still see the potential
Aims
The Mount Florida Community Trust (MFCT) was established in June 2019 by a group of residents with the support of 1200 local signatories. The Trust currently has 5 Directors united in their aims to retain the site for the benefit of the community.
The Trust is structured as a Company Limited by Guarantee with Ministerial approval. Should the Trust be successful in its aim of purchasing the Bowling Club site, this precious green asset will be protected for the benefit of the whole community.
In 2019, the Trust developed and submitted its own planning application for the site, after gathering local opinions for re-purposing the Club to meet 21st Century needs and interests. The application was approved by Glasgow City Council in September 2020. Although we have not yet had the opportunity to implement our proposals, it demonstrates that there is the possibility of a greener, more sustainable, active and inclusive future for the site without encroaching residential development.
Our aim is to be flexible and community-led in all plans for the future of the site, ensuring it will be able to adapt and thrive for another 110 years!
Vision
A Community Hub
The aim is to provide a focal point, accessible to all, to foster greater citizen engagement and bring local residents, the local businesses, and smaller organisations together to improve the quality of life and sense of community in the local Mount Florida area.
Active Leisure Space
Effectively designed open space is vital to improving residents’ quality of life, especially in urban areas. Health benefits associated with open space provision, such as providing opportunities for an active lifestyle and relaxation are well known. We also believe that the retention of this space is directly in line with the Glasgow City Council Strategic Objectives and City Development Plan.
A Sustainable Future
Founded in 1909, the Club has been used by several generations and enjoyed as an open space by many more. The Trust aims to develop a space which is accessible to the present generation of Mount Florida; but more importantly, remains an asset to pass over to new generations. It is clear that to enable the club to operate in a financially solvent manner there is a need to consider alternative means of income. The Trust aims to explore these options; alongside the community, to establish the right mix of activities and amenities, to maximise the benefit to the community and provide a sustainable future.
Follow Campaign Progress
““This campaign shows how strongly local people feel about the bowling club - as a green space but also as a social space for the community. It’s great to see””
Mount Florida Bowling Club
69 Carmunnock Rd, Glasgow, G44 4UE
Support the Campaign
We’re extremely keen to hear from local residents with ideas or suggestions about how we might use the bowling club site and from those willing to offer their time or skills. We are also asking for financial support from the community to support our campaign costs in relation to printing leaflets etc - if you could contribute to the Trust it would greatly assist our aims.