Shropshire Council set to agree consultation into future of Shrewsbury pitch and putt course

Shropshire Council’s Cabinet will be asked to hold a consultation into the future of Shrewsbury’s pitch and putt golf course, when they meet next week (Wednesday 30 November 2016).

Owned by Shropshire Council, the pitch and putt sits beside the main golf course at Meole Brace, but usage of the facility has declined from a peak of 2,590 visits in 2011 to below 1,600 this year.

A range of options are detailed in the Cabinet report regarding the future of the site:

1. Shropshire Council could continue to operate and subsidise the facility.
2. The site could be considered for transfer/sale.
3. Finally, there may be an alternative use for the site that will provide long-term benefit to the local community.

Before any final decision is made Cabinet is being asked to agree to hold a consultation that would begin in December and last six weeks, not including the Christmas and New Year break.

Alongside the public consultation, the council would seek the views of key stakeholders including Sport England, relevant national associations, Shrewsbury Town Council, Bannatyne’s, local residents’ associations and the current course operator.

Michael Wood, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for corporate support, said:

“The council has identified a number of options regarding the future of the pitch and putt site. However, we recognise that the future of the pitch and putt golf course is a matter of interest and concern to the public. Therefore, before any decision is taken on the future of the facility we propose to carry out a public consultation, to ask people for their views.”

The Cabinet report – and the agenda for the meeting – can be found here.