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<\/p>\nA petition urging a local authority not to close a golf course has triggered a council debate after gaining more than 6,000 signatures.<\/p>\n
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council confirmed the lease at Solent Meads, which has been used as a golf course for 64 years, was due to expire in November 2026 .<\/p>\n
It said this provided a “natural opportunity” to consider how the land could be used in the future and that it was “proactively working on alternative options for members of the golf club”.<\/p>\n
But Golf For All, which has run the site via a lease since 2003, said 20,000 golfers used the site every year and it feared councillors “don’t realise how much it means to a lot of people” .<\/p>\n
Roddy Watkins, co-director of the golf course, said: “It’s also a place for people to meet their mates… it’s their daily coffee and meet-up. It would be a huge loss.”<\/p>\n
Mr Watkins said the course, which has 18 par three holes, was mostly used by beginners and that many golfers in the area started by playing there.<\/p>\n
A public footpath runs straight through the site and Mr Watkins said it “couldn’t be a greener green space”.<\/p>\n
Comments on the petition also shared memories of playing at the course over the decades and praised its accessibility, affordability and “welcoming atmosphere” to people of all abilities.<\/p>\n
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Councillor Richard Herrett said he wanted to work with residents to “create a new vision” for Solent Meads [BBC]<\/p>\n
Liberal Democrat Richard Herrett, BCP’s portfolio holder for destination, leisure and commercial operations, said: “There are a number of popular golf courses within the conurbation with good capacity, and the team are proactively working on alternative options for members of the golf club.”<\/p>\n
He said the council knew “how much open spaces matter to communities” and it would be “engaging with residents directly to create a new vision for what can be achieved at Solent Meads and understand how they want to see it used going forwards”.<\/p>\n
“This will allow us to ensure more people have access to the stunning natural surroundings and all the benefits of an open, inclusive green space,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Open spaces play a vital role in the health and wellbeing to our residents, and we need to balance historic use with making them accessible to communities.”<\/p>\n
Petitions with 2,000 or more signatures are referred for debate at a meeting of full council where members will be asked to consider it and to determine the next steps.<\/p>\n