Issue - meetings

Use of Entry Hill golf course has declined over the past several years and the council wants to attract a larger number of people to enjoy open-air activity at this important site that forms part of Bath’s World Heritage Site designation.  The site operates at a financial loss to the Council. 

A consultation has been completed which welcomed opinions on a range of options including but not limited to a family cycle centre, a community growing space, outdoor education or continuing to provide a golf course. A number of parties have expressed an interest or submitted proposals for managing and operating the site during and following this consultation.  A way forward now needs to be agreed for the site.

The Approach golf course also operates at a financial loss to the Council and has had links to the running of Entry Hill since at least the beginning of the Aquaterra contract in 2005.  There are potential economies of scale and benefits to potential contractors to operating both sites so any decision on the future of Entry Hill needs to consider how the Approach will be managed as well.

The Chair invited Councillor Paul Crossley to introduce the report.

Before reading out the statement, Councillor Paul Crossley thanked to all speakers who addressed the Cabinet today and responded to speakers’ statements by highlighting the following points

• The anti-social behaviour was not unique just for golf courses; it was an issue that the Council would be taking up across all parks in Bath and North East Somerset.
• There were nearly 2,000 responses from postcodes in BANES, out of which 10% was from young people, which was quite unique and welcome.
• The decision would not be made based on bias. 
• The fact that people were cycling around, and up and down the course, would not mean that the Council would want to create cycle route.  The Council would go through the consultation responses and then make final decision.
• Signage would have to improve.

Councillor Paul Crossley read out the following statement:

‘First of all I would like to thank the leisure section of the Council who have put so much time and effort into this item, to Lemon Gazelle who ran our consultation, GLL and to the many many residents who engaged in the process at the consultation , on line and also via the many hundreds of emails I have had on these proposals. I recognize and understand the passion with which people hold their favourite pastime in.

The two sites have been closed since the start of the consultation so that our debt does not increase and the sites will remain closed until we have appointed new operators for the sites.

We originally anticipated making a decision on the future of the Entry Hill site based on the results of the consultation that took place a few months ago.

However the consultation process ignited a lot of interest in the site and this has led to a number of parties submitting bids or proposals that respond well to the criteria that were set out in the consultation.  These were 1. Addressing climate change  2. Encouraging more people to be more active, more often and 3. Ensuring the site does not require a financial subsidy from the Council in the future.

And then came Covid.

In addition to a climate emergency and a nature emergency we also now have a financial emergency.

This has resulted in us supporting GLL and working with them in partnership on getting our sporting facilities back in use. And that is why The Approach 12 hole and Approach 18 hole have been added to the decision.

In recent weeks at least 3 leisure trusts have gone out of business, locked up the facilities and handed the keys back to the local Council.

We do not want that to happen here.

Sport and leisure is a very important part of what makes living in Bath and NE Somerset such an attractive option for all our residents.

The interest that has been sparked by this consultation and is in marked contrast to the previous time the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33