Dorchester Bowls Club is urging the town council to improve security at the building following a late night arson attack.

But a number of councillors, speaking at a management committee meeting earlier this week, said the bowls club should ‘pay for it themselves’.

The inferno at the bowls club happened in March, leaving the first floor meeting room, toilets and three of the club’s six bowling rinks badly damaged.

The club building is owned by the Bowls Club itself but the adjoining football changing rooms which serves Sandringham Sports Centre are leased out to the town council, which is why the club says it should take some responsibility when it comes to security.

Chairman of the club, Colin Lawley, wrote a letter to Dorchester Town Council requesting the installation of CCTV cameras at the building and this was considered at the meeting.

Mr Lawley also suggested that two entry gates were too low and ‘inadequate to protect against unauthorised entry’.

He said in his letter: “Following the catastrophic fire at the club we are obviously concerned to ensure the club building is as secure as possible for the future.

“I fully understand that the council has austerity issues but recent events have made it abundantly clear we cannot afford to be complacent where security is concerned.”

In his letter he also said he hoped the CCTV would ‘act as a deterrent to the gang of young people who regularly congregate late at night around the car park and football changing rooms to smoke and consume alcohol’.

However Coun Robin Potter, speaking at meeting, said: “If they want CCTV, they should pay. Quite frankly it’s the same with the gates.”

Coun Stella Jones added: “I don’t think the town council should provide that.”

Speaking after the meeting the former president Peter Stevenson, who is now part of the project team dealing with the repairs at the club, said: “If we could work together on this, that would be appreciated by the members and I’m sure we could make a contribution.

“The town council have been supportive in the past.”

Chairman of the committee Andy Canning said a final decision was yet to be made.

After the meeting, Deputy town clerk Steve Newman said: “Before any final decision was made a fully costed scheme in respect of CCTV and the gates should be drawn up and submitted for consideration.”

Work to repair the damage caused, including the installation of a new roof, new lighting and new carpet in the bowls hall, is expected to start next week.

Fortunately, the damage has not affected the outdoor green for the summer season and repair work is expected to be finished in time for the indoor season beginning in October.