A historic bowls club fears it could be wiped out if a council’s plan to roll out a new skate park presses ahead.

Chislet Colliery Welfare Bowls Club states it has pleaded with Canterbury City Council (CCC) to rehash its urban park scheme at Hersden Recreation Ground.

The group argues the authority’s proposed BMX and skate track will eat into space for their critical expansion plans needed to stay afloat – putting an end to the club’s 70-plus years on the green.

Players are worried the move could drive future members away, force prices up and financially choke the long-running group.

But a CCC spokesman said it remained open to conversations with the club but “simply cannot meet the requests they are making”.

Chairman and secretary Bob Eslea told KentOnline he felt the council did not want them there or feel they were part of the community.

Speaking on Monday, Mr Eslea said: “In our small clubhouse, really we can only seat 36 people safely, so what we want to do is extend out the back by a little bit more, just three metres.

“That's all we're asking from the council.

“We commend the scheme, we're not against it but just a small amendment is all we're asking for and the council won't listen to us.

“It could put us in financial difficulty, which could lead to closure.

“I sometimes think the council want to see the bowls club close as they do not see us as part of the community although the majority of our members are local and we interact with village activities.”

Unveiling plans last year, the city council revealed it wanted to transform the village playpark to offer a BMX and skate track, which makes use of land behind the bowls facility.

The park will accompany a new sports pavilion to replace the previous structure, which burned down in an arson attack five years ago.

The bowls club first opened in 1938 after being gifted the land by the Coal Board, though the grounds were handed over to the Bridge Blean Rural District Council in 1971 in trust – later passed on to the newly-found CCC in 1974.

The authority says, therefore, it is the freehold owner, and has the power to manage the site for residents’ benefit and considers this project a scheme which does so.

In its early days, the land was a hub for the mining community, even after Chislet Colliery closed in 1969.

Families of the original miners even rebuilt the pavilion in 1991 - which still stands today.

With a potential expansion, the club says it could host larger charity events as well as host youth groups such as Beavers.

President Elsie Edwards, who has lived in Hersden for 75 years, expressed her sadness at the situation.

“I do love the bowling green, I love the bowls. I've bowled for 49 years and I love it dearly,” she said.

“I don't want to see it close or have anything done to it. It's a pleasure to have a bowling green, it's a lovely game.”

A council spokesman told KentOnline the authority remained open to conversations with the club but “simply cannot meet the requests they are making”.

"Our exciting plans for a new skate park and other public sports and community facilities at Hersden, as part of a masterplan for this area of the village, have received a huge amount of community support,” they said.

"This includes two public meetings following leafleting of local residents, parish council meetings and regular updates with city councillors representing the area.

"From all of that work, it is only Chislet Bowls Club that have concerns, and we have met them on three occasions and exchanged emails to discuss their views on the project and their future needs.

"Unfortunately, we cannot agree to their wishes to expand their lease area into the main open space.

“This area is a critical pinch point within the site and is currently proposed to be used for the skate park, access and cycle routes.

"We have been transparent and responsive to the bowls club throughout and support them having the opportunity to extend their current lease term, but not an expansion of the area they propose.

"In terms of parking in particular, the project would see the number of spaces going from less than four informal parking spaces, which the bowls club has no permission to use, to around 46 spaces that they will be able to use.

"We remain available to talk to the bowls club about the future and are committed to supporting them as we recognise their importance to the community.”