Members of a long-running Faversham sports club are up in arms about a new health and safety measure they claim is "bonkers" and "completely over the top".

Short-mat bowls club chairman Paul Durkin and his team have been asked to fill out a risk assessment form after more than 23 years without a single injury.

The group plays every Tuesday evening at the West Faversham Community Centre in the Swale league division two.

Mr Durkin said: "This red tape inflicted on our club is completely over the top.

"I had to question why – maybe if we were hang-gliding from the ceiling it might make sense but making us fill out risk assessments for a game like this is bonkers.

"These pieces of paper pretending to cover a duty of care are just pieces of paper beloved of bureaucrats."

He says sports community activities like short mat bowls do not come under health and safety legislation and such risk assessments do not apply.

West Faversham Community Centre trustee Greta Gregory said: "It is our duty of care to make hirers aware of their responsibilities to the people who come along to their planned activities and delivery activities safely.

"We have to ask the question to ensure we are not viewed as negligent."

West Faversham Community Association's chairman Nigel Kay said: "We are just acting responsibly as we have to.

"If we weren't thinking about these things then we wouldn't be doing our job. We are just trying to be helpful.

"The West Faversham Community Association is seeking to attain the VISIBLE standard and it expects in due course to be the 'best in class' as far as operating best practice and operating to the highest standards."

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