A PLAN for the development of a golf driving range on greenbelt land has enraged local residents.
The scheme has been put forward by Arena Developments at Lymm and involves land adjoining the Lymm Nurseries site off Rushgreen Road.
Local resident Anna Fradgley said: “This is clearly the proposal to build on greenbelt land purely for financial gain at the expense of the local landscape.
“Lymm is such a beautiful village and we are lucky to be able to enjoy the countryside. But more and more of it is being built upon, just for the benefit of developers.”
The site is currently pasture land and the developers say their proposals will be a “positive use of land for recreational purposes…of substantial benefit for the local population.”
But Mrs Fradgley said: “Arena say the development will do no harm to local wildlife, maintains the openness of the greenbelt and will not disrupt residents or increase traffic on Rushgreen Road.
“How can that be the case when they are proposing to build a club house and changing facilities, hard landscape 30 car park spaces and build 20 driving ranges?
“The facility will be open from 8am until 10pm Monday to Sunday including Bank Holidays.
“Of course this is going to increase traffic on Rushgreen Road and the flood lights for the driving ranges will affect local residents never mind the straying golf balls! Why do we need a golf driving range when we already have golfing facilities in and about Lymm? What percentage of Lymm’s population will actually use it? I would much rather see a public park which more people could enjoy.
“I urge local residents to object to this plan by emailing Mr John Groves at [email protected] within the next fortnight quoting the refernce 2011/18312. This is the only way we can prevent more greenbelt land being built upon now and in the future.”
Pictured: site of the proposed driving range, pictured from the Bridgewater Canal.
4 Comments
It’s hardly “pasture land” at the moment, just an abandoned field full of scrub next to the canal. At least a driving range would keep it green and mean it got mowed every now and again. Plus, of course, the jobs and income it would bring to the village.
This could be an application for further houses !
People need to get things into perspective.
I suspect that the biggest objectors are the very people who occupy the newly developed houses abutting the subject land , which will have there uninterupted view towards the canal obscured . Does this not smack of doulble standards as their houses now block the previous uninterupted view that many houses used to have !
The same can be said regarding the extra traffic generated.
Bring it on this would be a great facility which would be well used by golfers from High Legh, Lymm and Mere. It will be packed in the winter as there is no where else nearby. By the way doesn’t the lady realise you cant play golf at night in the winter-except at a driving range. Calm down dear its only a driving range!
Where were these protesters when the thousands of new houses were being built? This is pathetic considering that a whole new town’s worth of houses has been built alongside this area. I have lived in Lymm all my life. They area has changed beyond recognition, as developers have moved in, to the delight and burgeoning pocket of Warrington Borough Council. Yet there are still few facilities for local residents. A golf driving range might be a positive addition to an area which offers very little to its young people in terms of activities. I would like to remind all the lucky people who have been able to afford to pay ridiculous prices to move into the area, that there are people in Lymm who cannot afford to be members of Lymm Golf Club. People who grew up here when it wasn’t full of middle class snobs in range rovers. Granted, there are not many of us left, as we have been priced out of the market. It’s a free world so protest if you like, but please be honest about your reason for opposition.