Council plan to close historic Derbyshire golf course and create nature reserve

It would be a “tragedy” if a struggling 100-year-old Derbyshire golf course is closed and turned into a nature reserve, its loyal users say.
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Erewash Borough Council has announced early plans to permanently close Pewit Golf Course on the outskirts of Ilkeston and turn it into a nature reserve – four years before its centenary.

The authority has reiterated that the facility is not making a profit and is instead costing the council and taxpayers tens of thousands of pounds a year in losses, just to keep it open.

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In council reports, officers detail that the facility lost more than £43,000 in the nine months from June 2021 to February this year.

The golf course lost more than £43,000 in the nine months from June 2021 to February this year.The golf course lost more than £43,000 in the nine months from June 2021 to February this year.
The golf course lost more than £43,000 in the nine months from June 2021 to February this year.

This comes 14 months after Cllr Carol Hart, leader of the council, said it was a “very big if” that the golf course would be permanently closed, ruling out its reuse for housing development.

The council has operated the site as a golf course since 1926.

A council report set to be debated on Tuesday, June 7 looks for approval to permanently close the golf course and redevelop it as a nature reserve – a site it has owned since 1921

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It said that there had been 2,204 logged attendances at the golf course between June last year and February 2022, at an average of just over eight people per day.

The authority, citing statistics from Parkwood Leisure Holdings Ltd, which runs the facility on behalf of the council, says: “The data shows that golf attendance is consistently low, even during the better summer months.”

It says the total income from Pewit between June last year and February 2022 was £7,894 – an average of £29 per day over the nine-month period.

However, the estimated cost of running and maintaining the facility, including a reduced grounds maintenance regime, for those nine months was £51,708 – more than six times the facility’s income.

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This means the facility would need to increase income by more than six times to break even on the cost of running and maintaining it.

Officers wrote in a report on the issue: “The golf course was uneconomic pre-Covid-19 and, despite the efforts made, post-pandemic this situation is worsening with golf members and casual users declining.

“The scale of the financial shortfall is such that income levels would need to increase by manyfold in order just to break even.

“The running costs of the course are expected to rise significantly in the coming years due to increases in the national living wage, fuel costs and wider inflationary pressures.”

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The council has offered Parkwood a £40,000 per year reduction in the money it pays it to run its leisure centres if the site were to be permanently closed.

Officers say this would save the council approximately £280,000 in the remaining seven years of the contract.

The council says it would partner with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to protect and enhance the site as a nature reserve, if it was to cease life as a golf course.

It says this would continue the partnership it has with the trust, already working together on the Straws Bridge local nature reserve, Manor Floods local nature reserve and an adjacent piece of land managed by Derbyshire County Council known as Pewit Carr local nature reserve.

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A 30-year management plan would be drawn up between the council and the trust.

It says the nature reserve could form a fitting tribute to Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee marking 70 years on the throne, with 2022 also marking 70 years since the creation of the first national nature reserve in England.

An initial plan for the nature reserve scheme shows that a large section of land stemming off from the club house would be turned into allotments.

A spokesperson for Ilkeston Borough Golf Club told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I personally think it would be a tragedy if the course was to close.

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“We understand the recommendation is to close the golf course for financial reasons. The council has explained how it is allegedly making a loss. But since the course reopened from June 1 last year there are people who are supposed to book online to play the course but there is no check as to whether people have paid or not.

“So therefore, there are some people who are just turning up at the golf course, seeing there is nobody there (at the entrance) to manage it, take cash etc and then just playing for nothing.

“As a club we are very disappointed. We have been actively trying to ask people on the course if they’ve paid which isn’t an easy job, and we’ve helped with the maintenance of the course by putting the flags out and dealing with the bunkers.

“Our club has been on the course since 1929. It’s nine holes but there are 18 different tees.

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“This in my view is the same scenario as the Allestree Golf Course closure in Derby. The city council said it was making a loss and here Erewash Borough Council is saying the same thing.

“I understand there’s going to be an online petition – we’re trying to keep the course open. It gives older people exercise and mental well-being – but the council is saying the same benefits can be made by walking.

“They (the council) seem to have an answer for everything. We think it is an excellent community facility – lots of young people start their golfing careers at Pewit. It’s a great facility for young and old.“

A letter written by golf club captain Colin Brodie, to the borough council, seen by the LDRS, suggests that Parkwood should increase the cost of a monthly membership to bring in more revenue.

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He says the current £12.08 monthly membership for people aged 60+ “while exceptional value” could be raised “within reason” and not see a drop-off in members.

Mr Brodie wrote: “The condition and promotion of Pewit Course has been poor for a considerable number of years. Historically under council maintenance the course was in exceptional condition, but has been allowed to decline over a number of years.

“Any agreement of a reduced grounds maintenance regime since reopening has been counterproductive as it has further reduced the condition of the course and therefore reduced its repeat visitors.

“The Pewit Golf Course is a unique community facility within the Ilkeston town area which gives and offers mind and wellbeing benefits as well as sporting exercise to all. It also makes it affordable to the less well off.

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“Pewit Golf Course is already a green space area with wildlife and insect life throughout.”

He says engagement between the council and the golf club has been “entirely restrictive and one-sided”.

Cllr Hart said in March 2021: “If, and it is a big if, anything was to happen to Pewit, and there are going to be lots of options talked about, Pewit was decided to be closed it wouldn’t be a development at all, it would be turned into a nature reserve to tie in with the Manor Floods and Nutbrook Trail, which provide lovely area not only for Ilkeston Residents and visitors from further afield.

“But there are lots of steps and lots of information and lots of talks in between that, so it is a very big if, but be assured it would not be used for development.”

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Announcing the proposed closure of the golf course, Cllr Hart said: “We, of course, recognise the history of the site as a golf course but we have to review and look at its sustainability and consider the additional cost to our taxpayers across the whole borough. It is with this in mind that we review this site, a significant site that could be changed from a financially difficult area to something that could be a family friendly nature reserve for people of all ages to enjoy.

Nature reserves and open spaces have always been important but have become increasingly so in the world we are now living in – they give us all, young and old, the opportunity to help our mental health and wellbeing by being outdoors enjoying the flora and fauna and everything ‘green’.

“We are proud of the reserves and green spaces we have across our borough and Pewit would be an ideal site to increase our provision. Not only for us, as residents, but for the continued work we do with partners like Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to protect wildlife habitats and the natural features of Erewash.”