AFTER years of disappointment Bridport Indoor Bowling Club's attempt to find a new home could finally be on target.

Support is growing for its bid to relocate to the town's St Andrew's Road Industrial Estate, despite concerns over loss of an employment site.

The club wants to set up four indoor rinks in vacant units at Shoe Lane - double the number at its present cramped headquarters on the North Mills Trading Estate.

This week the town council's plans committee gave the move its firm support.

Coun David Tett said the club's attempts to find a new home had been dogged by disappointment for years. Bids to relocate to Priory Lane opposite the outdoor bowling green - their first choice site - was followed by further unsuccessful attempts to move to the leisure centre and then the Gore Gross Business Park.

But he said their latest bid looked set for success and he believed West Dorset planners would grant a one-off change of use dispensation for the industry units.

Coun Tett said he did not think this would create a precedent and stressed that the club had undertaken to hand back it current premises for light industry use after it moved.

He added: "The club itself is a very thriving one which has a knock-on effect on the economy of the town." But the committee heard that the St Andrew's Road Residents' Association was objecting to the plan.

Its secretary, and plans committee member, Maggie Ray said they were concerned at the loss of an industrial site and its potential effect on jobs. It was also contrary to structure plan guidelines.

Coun Tony Tiltman, an outdoor bowler, said the unit was "ready made" and an ideal location and he hoped the bowling club would be allowed to go there after years of looking for a new base.