Many footpaths over golf course

I was intrigued to see the photo of the sign so prominently displayed on the letters page (January 21) which had been supplied to you by Councillor Chowen, the cabinet member responsible for leisure and culture.

The inference to be drawn from this photo and a reason put forward repeatedly by Councillor Chowen for closing the golf course is that it is only really accessible to golfers.

Having played golf at Rookwood for many years I can honestly say I had never previously come across this sign and a quick check with some fellow golfers confirmed that neither had they.

Following further investigation and a fairly lengthy search the sign was finally located tucked away in the Warnham Nature Reserve car park - a HDC facility .

As you will see from the photo on this page, compared to the blown up version in your paper, the sign is pretty minuscule (A4) and whether by accident or design the HDC logo in the bottom left corner was omitted from the version appearing in your paper.

The sign is also adjacent to a stile giving access to a clearly marked public footpath which is one of many adjacent to and crossing parts of the golf course.

As the many of the non golfers who have written to

your paper objecting against its closure have confirmed, they have pretty much unrestricted access to the golf course and co-exist quite happily alongside the golfers.

Having checked other access points to the golf course, contrary to the impression given by Councillor Chowen, there are no signs restricting access with all of them clearly marked as public footpaths and or cycleways.

We need an honest and open debate about the future of Rookwood Golf Course without the cabinet member overseeing it resorting to what can best be described as fairly dubious tactics to promote his own agenda.

ROGERLIGHTER Springfield Park Road, Horsham