FOR some time now bowlers have been aware of the poor condition of the Indoor Bowls facilities at the Christie Miller Sports Centre in Melksham and that there is no intention of carrying out any remedial work to keep it fit for purpose. It will eventually be closed leaving the bowlers nowhere to play. 
My fellow bowlers and I were encouraged when we were told that a brand new six-rink indoor bowling green would be included in the proposed Melksham Campus.
 Since then, things have changed dramatically on the campus front, to such an extent that the proposed bowling green is no longer to be included in it. To cut a long story short, A search for an alternative venue or suitable plot of land was suggested so that the construction of a bowling green could take place. So far, there has been no success on this front. This brings me to the situation with the future of the Melksham Blue Pool. My understanding is that when work starts on the campus (now renamed Health and Well-being Centre) the Blue Pool will no longer be required because a new, bigger pool will be provided as part of the centre. 
This raised the question,’what will become of the old Blue Pool?’
In answer, I am told that Wiltshire Council has decided to knock it down so that a car park can be put in its place. To do this, a figure of £1,000,000 was quoted from somewhere. At a recent Melksham Town Council meeting, the Christie Miller Indoor Bowls committee representative raised the question of this proposed action on the Blue Pool site. He was  advised to write to Wiltshire Council, suggesting that instead of knocking down a perfectly good, sound building, an alternative use should first be considered. 
The Indoor Bowls Committee have looked at the Blue Pool as a suitable building and consider it certainly big enough to be converted into an indoor bowling green, and at a fraction of the cost. 
It also has the advantage of cloakroom facilities, essential for any sporting activities, and the close proximity of the assembly rooms is ideal for the provision of refreshments during and after playing bowls.
I urge, indeed I implore, whoever has the power, the foresight and the good sense, to take a fresh look at the plight of the Indoor Bowling group of people and seriously consider how to spend what little cash is available on something far more valuable than yet another car park. To me, the site of the Blue Pool is so obvious and it would once again become a huge part of what was once planned as a campus.
Richard Buckland
Woodrow Road
Forest
Melksham