Dino golf bid above par
ADVENTURE COURSE WINS BACKING TO BE A BIG HIT
AN 18-hole dinosaur themed adventure golf course could be coming to Stockhill.
Residents welcomed the plans which would involve disused tennis courts in Stockhill recreation ground being turned into an adventure golf course, party room, cafe and car park.
Nottingham City Council has entered a two-year agreement to lease the land on Nuthall Road to a company called The Adventure Experience Ltd. The company, based in Surrey, runs adventure golf courses in Kent, London, Hertfordshire and Middlesex.
Angela Cairns, chairman of Stockhill and Ladbrooke Tenants’ and Residents’ Association, said: “If it got the go-ahead then it could be really positive for the area, but I just hope it is done the right way.
“It has the potential to really put Nottingham back on the map and make the area more desirable, but I don’t want it to undo what we have already been doing over the last 10 years.
“We use the facilities on the site a lot, especially over the school holidays, so it is important for us to be able to carry on what we are doing.
“The plans are still in their early stages though, but from what I gather the other sites across the country have proved to be very popular.”
Although concerns have been raised about the loss of facilities on the site, a report published by the council said “the existing pavilion will be refurbished to provide cafe and catering facilities, toilet provision and a ticket office.
The golf course will take up about 25 percent of the whole site, developing the space occupied by a tennis court, disused bowling green and an area of Tarmac.
The remaining 75 percent of open space will remain unaffected. The green space and the building will be available for community use under the terms of the lease agreement
“A separate building will also be utilised as a party room, and will also be made available to local community groups to hold meetings in the evening.”
Councillor Cat Arnold, the Labour councillor for Basford, said the plans were promising, but she raised concerns about parking.
She said: “It should be a really good thing for the area and it will be a good source of revenue.
“It is the type of site that will attract families but primarily I want to make sure it benefits the local community.
“The main concern for me is the parking situation. We have already had problems with parking in the area and I don’t want that to be made worse by this site.”
Adventure Experience Ltd is looking to expand their adventure golf business into the East Midlands and it believes the site in Stockhill meets their criteria. City council deputy leader councillor Graham Chapman said: “We have made this decision after examining the economic benefits of improving the underused pavilion and tennis/bowls space with an adventure golf course, alongside a café and party/meeting room.
“We’ve been liaising with local residents throughout the development of this proposal and know there is some local support.
“The arrangement we have made with The Adventure Experience will also mean further landscaping improvements and developments can be made to the site which would not have been possible under budget constraints.
“We have a similar agreement with an adventure golf company at Highfields Park which has been under way for around a year now and we anticipate this agreement being just as successful for all parties, bringing new visitors to the area as well as creating a welcome hub on the site for community use.”