A former county bowls player and life-long borough resident has spoken of her desire to see the now-derelict international bowling green site in Mortlake remain a community space.

But the likelihood of 93-year-old, Doris Enderby-Caldwell, having her wish granted is slim as Ashill Developments announced this week it was ready to submit its planning application for the land at Williams Lane to Richmond Council.

If approved it would see the old Watney’s Sports Ground bowling green site, which has been disused and inaccessible since the early 90s, transformed into 17 family town houses, 59 apartments, and areas of community amenity space.

Ms Enderby-Caldwell, who once played for her county at the venue in the Women’s Championship 33 years ago, said: “I wish the greens were here now. They used to be so lovely – Mortlake used to have a village community.

“My bowling days may be over but I think it should be retained as a space for the community.”

The Glendower Road resident supports a proposal by campaigners in the area to convert the land into a community gardening project.

Chairman of Chertsey Court Residents’ Association, John Repsch said: “All over London people are creating patches of greenery where food can be grown and children can learn about the environment.

“There are already 80,000 empty homes in London, so there is no need to come here and build over one of the last, precious green bits in this ward.”

Ashill Developments invited 790 members of the community to its public exhibition in April and managing director, Steve Lavers, said the feedback he got from the public was generally positive.

Mr Lavers promised the scheme “could be enjoyed by the whole community” and claimed the site had recently been specifically identified in the council’s latest five-year housing land supply review for the delivery of 79 residential units.

He said: “In response to feedback we have removed the large parking court in the western part of the site to provide a much larger area of community green space, which could be used as either a wildlife area or even for petanque.

“Calls to put the site solely to use as open space are unrealistic when you consider the substantial costs involved and the lack of operator demand.”

  • What are your memories of the bowling green?