Nearly 1,000 people have already signed a petition to save bowls clubs threatened with closure as bowlers fight the council’s plans to merge clubs next month to save £25,000.

Players were heartbroken in November when they were told council-funded Morden and Merton bowling clubs would not re-open at the end of the 2016 season.

November 2015: Bowls over? Two beloved bowling clubs could close as council looks to cut funding

Wimbledon Times: Open day: Morden Bowls Club

Merton Council’s cabinet member for community and culture, Nick Draper, says merging facilities would be “fair”, given the £90,000 annual cost of maintaining six bowling greens used by about 60 members.

Secretary of Merton Bowling Club, Tina Smith, said: “It’s quite heart-breaking. When people get to a certain age they want to do things together.

“They can do it for fun when we have club afternoons, or they can compete in a league.

“I’m just trying to give Merton Bowls Club a high profile and show there are people who would use it and how much of an asset to the community it is.”

After Ms Smith launched her petition – which had been signed by 990 people as of Tuesday, February 2 – she was contacted by a company that maintains several bowls clubs.

The company told her it could look after the council’s six bowling greens for half of the £90,000 that is currently spent on maintenance every year.

Ms Smith said: “This could save them more than the £25,000 they need to save every year.

“It is down to Nick Draper and whether he has the mindset to change.”

Ms Smith was heartened even more by the support she has had from Bowls England.

Chief executive of Bowls England Tony Allcock MBE wrote to Merton Council leader Stephen Alambritis about his concern at the potential closure of the bowls club.

He wrote: “The social benefits of sport are especially felt within the sport of bowls, which many of the older generation see as a safe haven among friends.

“For many of our members the convenience of a bowls club within walking distance is vital to their long-term health.”

Councillor Nick Draper said: “We are not closing any bowls clubs.

“We have worked tirelessly with the bowls clubs for three years, advising them on how to promote their clubs and how they could join forces to recruit new members so they are better value for money for council taxpayers, but their numbers have remained stubbornly low.

“With so many other difficult decisions to make which affect more vulnerable people, we think it’s fair that the council reduces its subsidy to the very small number of people who use these two greens.”

To sign the petition, visit Change.org.