A mayoral candidate says he will save a bowls club if he is elected.

George Jabbour, who is running as the Conservative candidate, wants to end a dispute between Watford Indoor Bowls Club and Watford Borough Council.

The council are reluctant to renew the lease of the bowls club which is based at Woodside playing fields.

Watford Borough Council says it has been in discussions with the bowls club over the past 18 months.

The bowls club treasurer and secretary, Audrey Watts, has said the council has asked them to pay £55,000 a year + VAT.

However, the council will not be able to continue to subsidise the club or meet its demand for an on-going tenancy at below market rent.

In a letter to a member of the bowls club, Mayor Dorothy Thornhill said the council were getting "nowhere" after years of protracted negotiations.

 But Mr Jabbour has said that he will extend the lease if he is selected as mayor.

Following a visit to the bowls club, he said: "I visited the bowls club, reviewed the legal case and discussed the situation with the management team. I have reached the conclusion that the lease should be extended to Watford Indoor Bowls Club to secure the future of an integral part of Woodside playing fields.

"As mayor, I would like to ensure that public money is spent in the best possible way and encourage local groups and volunteers, who are providing important services for our residents, to continue doing the right thing."

The Conservative Council candidate for Woodside, Sarah Hayes, added: "The bowls club is an important local hub for people to meet, socialise and get some exercise too."

Manny Lewis, managing director of Watford Borough Council, said: “Factually, the council is in dispute with Watford Indoor Bowls Club over the rent due and the terms of the lease renewal.

"The rent paid by the bowls club is below the level that has been assessed by an independent expert. 

"The Woodside site overall is an incredibly popular sports and leisure facility and there is clear demand for alternative use of the bowls club for leisure activities that will appeal to a much wider community. 

"In addition, there is a thriving alternative club in the town that bowlers from Watford Indoor Bowls could join.”

Mayor Thornhill added: "For us this is about getting a new and better facilities for the town and making Woodside a place to visit and stay for a day. 

"To achieve this we are asking our bowlers to transfer to a different club who would welcome them with open arms.  

"As Mayor, you sometimes have to take tough decisions, but a newly regenerated family friendly Woodside Playing Field would benefit the whole town."

However, club secretary Audrey Watts has said the new bowls club would not be "sufficiently accomodate" all of its current members which total more than 300.
 

Read more: Future of bowls club in doubt