Golf club boss 'fairly confident' homes won't be built on course

SITE APPEARED IN COUNCIL'S POTENTIAL OPTIONS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMEN

- By LAUREN MONAGHAN Local democracy reporter

THE chairman of a golf club has addressed concerns about its future after it appeared on a council map of possible sites for new homes.

Mapperley Golf Club, off Plains Road and Central Avenue, is included in a new draft Gedling Borough Council development plan of where houses could be built over the next decades.

But 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.

Now, the club’s chairman, Paul Cookson, has moved to address the future of the site, saying he was “fairly confident” the course 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 won’t give it a go.”

Trevor Smith, who has played at the golf course for more than 30 years, fears the environmental impact of any development.