The Teviot Valley Community Board, meeting in Roxburgh yesterday, decided to lease the 2100sq m recreation reserve to the Teviot Valley Young Farmers group for $1 a year.
The bowling club announced earlier this year it would dissolve after 92 years of operation as it had too few members to pay for maintenance, insurance and necessary grounds upgrades.
The young farmers asked the council if they could use the building as a meeting place.
However, council property and facilities officer Christina Martin said the group said it was unable to pay for insurance.
The board decided to allow the young farmers group to not insure the building, provided it used its own resources to demolish it if it became unusable, for example from natural hazards.
The grounds had "come to the end of their life" as a bowling green, she said.
"I’ve been told you would have to dig it up and start again."
The group mainly wanted use of the clubrooms, but the lease required it to keep the whole area tidy, she said.
Board member Cliff Parker said he was concerned about whether the group was large enough.
"What if they decide the task is too big?"
Chairman Raymond Gunn said like all groups, membership was "cyclical", but it was "very strong" at present.
"Although it is a risk if there are a downturn in numbers.
"However, I think it’s a good outcome really, financially and for the community."
Ms Martin said if the building was not leased to the group either the council would have to pay for upkeep, or it would be given back to the Crown and then sold. The bowling club was still "winding up its activities", Ms Martin said.
The club raised concerns about a retaining wall at the back of the property that an engineer’s report said was inadequate and recommended further investigation.
The young farmer group decided not to take action but to monitor it.
