Issue - meetings

The Chair made reference to the urgent statement he had made at the virtual meeting on 31^st March 2022 about the Approach golf course, which is included in the minutes of that meeting.

The Leader made the following urgent statement;

“As we pass two years since the temporary closure of the Approach Course, I am conscious of the importance of securing the future of this much loved and important green space. A petition to keep golf at the site received over 5000 signatures and a GoFundMe campaign attracted many generous pledges of support. This site has always been amicably shared by a variety of users. With golf on offer for over 60 years, residents and visitors of all ages and abilities have been able to play regularly or simply to have a go. Priced to be affordable and socially inclusive, the spectacle of golf played on the Common has been an iconic feature of Bath’s recreational scene.

In May last year I made a commitment to keeping a golf course at the Approach site subject to a viable operator being identified. Restoring this important leisure facility is consistent with our plan to enable more people to be more active more often, improving both health and well-being.

As we emerge from the pandemic, the time is right to look again for a provider. Together with Golf For All, this is an exciting opportunity for a vibrant café, reopening of the public toilets and enhancement of the existing green environment. Subject to council business processes, there will now be a procurement process, starting with a market engagement exercise, with a view to awarding a contract by August.