The Vale of Glamorgan Council is preparing to hand control of bowls facilities over to the clubs that use them.

Following the success of a similar initiative which now sees some libraries in the County run by community groups, from October 1 eight bowls clubs will be responsible for the likes of maintaining their greens and pavilions.

This move will mean the Council can make significant savings at a time when rising costs and reducing budgets mean a prudent financial approach is essential.

For the past 12 months, clubs have been preparing for the changes with support from the Council.

This has included seeking sponsors and organising events to generating funds, appointing maintenance companies and hiring out facilities for private use.

Clubs have been provided with a five-year indemnity by the Council, protecting them from the cost of significant works during that period while club reserves are built up.

Cllr Kathryn McCaffer, Vale of Glamorgan Council Cabinet Member for Leisure, Arts and Culture, said: "This is an important development in our approach to how sports club facilities are managed in the Vale.

''Making them the responsibility of individual clubs not only gives those clubs more control over how they are run, but, by reducing the level of subsidy, also saves the Council money at a time of significant final pressures.

"This represents a major change to the way in which bowls clubs are managed, but I've been impressed by the way these teams have risen to that challenge.

"As we continue efforts to streamline Council spending, we will explore the possibility of introducing similar arrangements for other sports teams across the County."