Lidl plan for bowling alley used by England players

A tenpin bowling alley used by England squad members is set to be demolished to make way for a supermarket.

Namco Funscape, at Bowthorpe on the outskirts of Norwich, has 30 bowling lanes, an arcade, a cafe and a separately-owned pro-shop selling bowling equipment.

A spokesperson said it had been running at a loss, but shop owner Phil Punter said it had one of the strongest regional bowling associations in the country.

Norwich City Council's planning committee has been recommended to approve the plan for Lidl when it meets on Thursday, despite several objections.

These include concerns about the loss of a leisure facility and issues with parking, traffic and safe pedestrian access.

Some residents also said the area did not need another supermarket as there was already a Roy's, an Aldi and a Sainsbury's nearby.

Roy's and Aldi have lodged formal objections, as has Waitrose, which has a store in Eaton.

The purpose-built bowling alley opened more than 30 years ago and objectors claim it is the only site in the area that caters for league bowling.

Mr Punter said it was used by a woman who competes for England and by four senior Team England squad members.

Two of its juniors from Norwich recently represented England at the European Championships in Turkey, he added.

"Tenpin bowling in Norfolk and Suffolk is very, very strong," Mr Punter said.

"It's a bit sad that if it closes we're going to lose a lot of good bowlers from the region."

A Tuesday night league, run by Mr Punter, has 13 teams of eight players, aged from juniors through to octogenarians.

"If Lidl takes the site, there's nothing recreational," he added.

Namco Funscape said the company's lease on the building was due to end in 2027 and the decision on its future lay with the landlord.

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