Golf club may be sold off for homes
A golf course in Wolverhampton could be sold off and thousands of homes built in its place under a deal thought to be worth up to £200 million, netting members a huge windfall.
It is understood a revolutionary replacement 36-hole course could be built in Pendeford under the enormous plans for Oxley Park Golf Club.
The 100-acre leafy site would be wiped off the map – with the future of the 18-hole course now in the hands of members, who are set to meet next week, and council planners.
Club officials have already met council chiefs to contest rules which say the Stafford Road site has to be used for leisure purposes. Council sources said the proposal would be fought all the way.
More than 500 players at the club, bought by its members in the 80s, are set to be balloted on the plans.
They could be in line for a hefty windfall if the developer snaps up the land. Under the deal it is thought the developer could build a new club in Pendeford.
The news has had mixed reactions from members of the club, which was formed in 1913 and was originally owned by the council.
It was sold off in 1988 at a cost of £150,000.
Today club secretary Phil Ash refused give details of the latest plans but said talks were being held among members who held the ultimate final say on the decision. Club president Ken Dando also refused to comment on the plans but said it was up to the members to decide next week.
Roger Lawrence, leader of Wolverhampton Council, said a decision on whether golfers were successful on lifting the restrictions wouldn’t be made until later this year.
“We will fight this all the way. We don’t want to lose green belt to housing – brownfield sites should be for housing,” he said.
Ian Brookfield, councillor for Oxley, said: “There are not many green open spaces in Oxley and this is the last remaining one.”
Express & Star, 14th January 2005
