The boss of a long-standing golf club in Mapperley say he’s confident it will remain as it is after its future was plunged into doubt.
The Mapperley Golf Club, situated off Plains Road and Central Avenue, has been included in a new draft Gedling Borough Council development plan that has identified it as a site for possible housing in the decades ahead.
It’s not the first time it’s come under the spotlight after thousands of campaigners fought to protect the site from development more than 10 years ago.
However, Paul Cookson, chair of the golf club, moved to address the future of the site, telling the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), he was “fairly confident” the space will not be built on.
He said: “The last time this was done [in 2011], it was deemed economically unviable because of the land and water [with flooding] – that’s still the case.
“I’m fairly confident they won’t be able to build on it because of the [lease] covenant and the club’s financial viable position – but that’s not to say they wont give it a go.”
Trevor Smith, who has played at the golf course for more than 30 years, told the LDRS a big concern of potential housing on the site was the environmental impact.
He said: “It’s a beautiful bit of land, it’s the trees and bushes, the wildlife that’s there, foxes, badgers, deer, birds.”
He called the speculation of the golf club’s future a “bombshell”, adding: “I should hate to move anywhere else… It’s the social side that’s important – we have various ages, just in my [golf] group.
“They have weddings there, birthdays, funerals. It’s central to a lot of areas that people use – it’s not just a golf club.”
A number of new sites have been identified in Gedling Borough Council’s new local housing plan, set to be discussed by the authority’s cabinet on Thursday (July 10).
The Mapperley Golf Club site, featured in the plan, is owned by the borough council and classed as ‘safeguarded land’, with documents stating it is ‘not available for development’ currently.
Under the new draft local plan, the land could end up being allocated for housing in the council’s bid to hit housing targets – the borough council’s has increased by 45% under the Labour government.
There has been speculation online that the golf club would not have its lease – which currently runs until 2030 – renewed due to financial uncertainty.
The chairman said he “loaned the [golf] club enough money” to financially secure its future for at least two years “to ensure there would be no debt problem with Gedling [Borough Council] and unpaid bills”.
Mr Cookson said: “I’ve been a member there for eight years. I decided I needed to contribute something back to a club I love.
“I think the council thought there were financial implications in future – I’ve secured the future by making funds available. We’ve turned a corner on our future, the [potential housing plans] was a blow.”
Both Mr Cookson and Mr Smith said they would support a campaign to save the land from development if necessary.
Mr Cookson added his “number one aim” was to get the golf club’s lease extended and added he would be meeting with the council next week to clarify positions on potential development plans.
A Gedling Borough Council spokesperson said: “Gedling Borough Council have held initial discussions with Mapperley Golf Club as part of our ongoing work on the council’s Local Plan.
“We are continuing to work with landowners and other key stakeholders across the borough to explore potential options for future development, and no decisions have been made at this stage.”
The draft local plan will be discussed in next Thursday’s cabinet meeting where councillors will be asked to approve a consultation that will invite residents, businesses and community groups to comment on the number and location of the new homes planned.
Subject to cabinet approval on July 10, the consultation runs from Monday, July 21, to Sunday, September 1.
The golf course was previously threatened by plans to build on it more than a decade ago, with the council planning to allocate the area for up to 1,900 homes up until 2011.
However, a 4,000-person strong campaign opposed the development and planning officials decided it would be too expensive to build there in the end.
I’d much rather they build a new small town somewhere than increasing the size of Nottingham and spoiling the green spaces and countryside we still have left within walking distance. Maybe west of Calverton towards the dead end of Gravelley Hollow that they closed where it used to junction with the A614. It’s tucked out of the way, wouldn’t spoil anybody’s view and probably very few people ever go up there. Yes it’s a wood, but you’re going to spoil where ever you build.
Be a travesty if we lost this
If there’s enough money about then it will be lost unfortunately.