BOWLERS across Darlington are hopeful of a secure future after coming up with plans to save their greens and leagues.

The newly-formed Darlington Bowling Association has reached agreement with councillors and officers to overcome spending cuts.

Bowling fees are expected to be increased, alongside a £5,000 donation from Darlington Primary Care Trust, to ensure six public greens can remain open.

Members of the town's bowling community met council figures, including deputy leader Bill Dixon, head of Street Scene Brian Graham and Councillor Mark Burton, whose ward included some of the threatened greens, before Christmas. More than 80 players attended Rolling Mills Club for the meeting.

As a result, senior figures from the sport in the town, including representatives from each of the greens, formed a bowling association.

They will take advice from similar organisations in other parts of the country.

The measures will enable four threatened greens to remain open. It also means fixtures for the impending league season have been drawn up.

Four greens were under threat because of Darlington Borough Council's spending cuts. It was aiming to save £30,000 from the Street Scene budget as part of proposals to cut £22m by 2014.

Malcolm Cundick, chairman of the bowling association, said: "We have reached an agreement, in principle, that all six greens will be kept open for the coming season. It gives us this season to fully assess the situation and take a more proactive role with the greens with the parks department for the future.

"It is vital for the future of bowling in our town. We are grateful for the help we have received from the council."

Councillor Dixon said: "Regrettably, due to the reduction in public funding, our budget proposals do include the potential closure of a number of bowling greens.

"However, we are delighted we have been able to secure a one-off sum of external funding - alongside an agreement that members of the club will pay double fees. These two actions will extend the time available to club members to find new ways of funding and running the clubs independent of council funding.

"The full details are still being worked up and will form part of a second period of formal consultation on the budget proposals later this month."