Controversial plans to change facilities at one of Swindon’s few public golf courses will be debated, and possibly decided next week.
While Swindon Borough Council owns the land on which Broome manor Golf Complex sits, the business is owned by a private company, Twigmarket Ltd.
The company has put in ambitious plans to make significant changes to the site. It wants to build a much bigger three-storey driving range, with a pool and snooker room and bar/function room.
If approved, a lake will be created on the driving range.
As part of the plans they want to build eight football pitches for hire and more car parking as well as a high ropes obstacle course and an adventure golf course for youngsters.
But to do so three holes on the existing nine-hole golf course would be used to make it happen.
The petanque court at the front of the building will be moved to this area.
Twigmarket says it needs to diversify its offering to the public to thrive.
Its application says: “The proposals will significantly improve the facilities offered by the golf course, diversifying the revenue streams and cross-subsidising the golf business, which is in structural decline across the UK, and helping to make it a sustainable leisure and sporting hub for the area.”
It asserts that should the plans not be approved the future of the golf complex remains “uncertain” and that the decline in popularity of golf could mean that gold ceases on the site and some “alternative viable uses” may be sought for the site.
But plenty of people, including South Swindon MP Robert Buckland disagree.
More than 130 members oif the public wrote in to object to the plans . The majority were concerns at the creation of the football pitches and extra parking, removing three holes from the nine-hole course.
But planning officers have recommended that councillors on the committee approve the plans. The report to members says: “There is no reason to suggest the development will lead to a loss of members or that the development will generate noise significant enough that will be of detriment to golfers using the course.
"It is also understood that the peak use of the football pitches is unlikely to be the same as the peak use of the golf course."
The planning committee will meet at 6pm on Tuesday September 13. Members of the public are free to attend.
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