OLYMPIC medallists joined the fight to save Huddersfield bowling last night.

Campaigners gave councillors a 1,240-name petition demanding the new sports centre at Springwood includes an indoor bowling green.

More than 1,000 people use the current bowling hall at Huddersfield Sports Centre at Southgate.

But Kirklees Council announced last month that the £36m replacement centre at Springwood would not have a bowling green.

Barry Nicholson, 32, who has brain damage and autism, was part of a 12-strong deputation from Huddersfield Indoor Bowling Club which presented the petition last night.

The Meltham man won gold in the bowls at the Special Olympics in Glasgow in 2005.

Mr Nicholson said: “I have been bowling for the eight or nine years and I think it’s a good thing to do because it’s a competitive sport.

“It would be sad if the new sports centre doesn’t have a bowling green. I want to keep bowling so I can win more matches and more medals.”

Mr Nicholson was joined at last night’s council meeting by his twin brother Steven – also a Special Olympics medallist – their mother Marie and father Dave, who is chairman of Huddersfield Indoor Bowling Club.

The club’s secretary Harold Hick presented the 1,240-name petition at the monthly council meeting.

He said: “We were promised a like-for-like replacement and we were promised we would be kept in the loop. This has failed to happen.

“This petition was signed by people who are disgusted with the treatment of the bowlers.

“We’re here to give you another chance to listen to the views of the electorate.”

Kirklees plans to build a new sports centre at Spring Grove Car Park in Springwood as part of a wider redevelopment of the town centre which includes demolishing the sports centre at Southgate to make way for a new Tesco.

The £36m sports centre plan initially included an indoor bowling green.

But last month the council announced the blueprint had been changed to save Kirklees £1m.

The council’s Cabinet member for regeneration Clr Mary Harkin said: “We know the bowling hall is valued by many people, but we have to make difficult financial decisions.

“We’re planning a flexible health zone which can be used by a range of people, as opposed to a bowling green.”

She said the number of people bowling at the sports centre had dropped by nearly half since 2006-07.