From Tewksbury Borough Council
Cleeve Hill Golf Club to close next spring
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The current tenant of Cleeve Hill Golf Club has given notice of its intention not to continue its lease next spring.
The Share Club Ltd has served notice at the earliest opportunity within its 25-year lease to end the tenancy at the end of March 2021 - due to financial unviability.
Following the Share Club Ltd's decision, the borough council commissioned an independent expert opinion on the future of golf provision in this location. The report concluded that golf could not be financially sustainable at Cleeve Hill without significant investment and an ongoing subsidy from the council.
Given this conclusion, and the difficult financial position facing local government, the council’s Executive Committee reluctantly decided to end its licence to use Cleeve Hill Common for the laying out of a golf course from 31 March 2021. The land will return to the control of the Cleeve Common Trust, from 1 April 2021. This decision by the council has no effect on the current use of the remainder of the common, and that will remain open for the public’s continued enjoyment.
The council, which owns the clubhouse, has been exploring alternative options for the club's site. In the short-term, there are no current plans to redevelop it, although the very poor condition of the building means that there is no other affordable option other than for it to be demolished.
The borough council recognises that the local area is well-loved for walking and exploring, and the car park will remain open to members of the public
Longer term, any option would only be considered if it could meet four crucial themes. It must:
Facilitate and enhance the space for use by the community
Protect the local environment
Protect public access
Be commercially sustainable
Tewkesbury Borough Council's Lead Member for Finance and Asset Management Cllr Robert Vines said: “It is a shame that local authority golf will end here at Cleeve Golf Club, and sadly this will be a particularly difficult time for the club's employees.
“I would like to reassure those who use the common regularly, that Tewkesbury Borough Council is very much in support of public access to the area and we will continue to work with Cleeve Common Trust to ensure this remains the case.”
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