Sir, Following the massive increase in rental fees for bowling greens suddenly announced by Oxford City Council's leisure and parks department on May 19, a number of Oxford's bowling clubs are now facing closure.

This desperate move by the council to balance its books was taken without any prior consultation of the clubs involved, and will be counterproductive.

The more clubs are forced to close, the less revenue the council will receive from its bowling greens. Furthermore, the policy is in flagrant breach of the council's proclaimed 'leisure strategy', which promises improved sports facilities for the elderly and disabled.

Any council policy which in effect reduces the recreational opportunities that the elderly and disabled enjoy at present is a policy of discrimination against some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

As secretary of one of the bowls clubs affected, I should like to make two proposals.

1: That any cost increase the council intends to make should first be given a detailed public justification, and its implementation be deferred until the start of the next season. It should not be made retrospective, because all bowls clubs have already fixed membership fees for the current year.

2: That any such increase be subject to a per capita rebate to all clubs with OAP and disabled members, thus ensuring that members in those categories can continue to play bowls without being forced to pay higher fees. This would enable the council to honour the pledge contained in its strategy document.

I estimate that in the case of my own club, this rebate would need to be of the order of £35 per annum for every member falling into the above categories.

Roy Harris, Secretary, Osberton Bowls Club, Oxford