THE peaceful atmosphere of Oxford's bowling clubs has been replaced by a mood of seething discontent on the greens For instead of looking forward to a long and relaxing summer, the city's bowlers say they are preparing for a battle for survival.

Clubs say increases in rental fees for bowling greens imposed by Oxford City Council have left them with uncertain futures.

The problems have arisen because of a city council bid to create a level playing field for local clubs, which appears to have backfired, leaving a trail of unhappy losers.

The council's leisure and parks department says it wants to set the same green charges for all clubs. But some clubs say they are facing rental increases of up to 100 per cent, leaving them with the choice of increasing membership fees, or folding completely.

Roy Harris, pictured, secretary of Osberton Bowls Club, said: "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. But it will be counterproductive. The more clubs are forced to close, the less revenue the council will receive for its bowling greens."

Osberton Bowls Club, based in North Oxford, fears the rental for green and club house is set to rise from £1,623 to £3,400 a year. The current membership fee for pensioners is £14.

Seven bowling clubs rent greens from the city council. Another of them, Barton Bowling Club, with a membership of just 13, says it faces having its grant from the city council halved to £200, while seeing green rent almost doubled to £1,966.

Fixture secretary, John Kisby, said: "There is no way we can hope to raise that kind of money. We are in dead trouble."

But a spokesman for Oxford City Council, said the council was trying to be even-handed.

She said: "The parks operational manager recently met representatives from all the bowling club and the fees were all agreed."