The council debated the motion put forward by councillors Tony Jones and Andy McCormick on Thursday, October 16, calling for an alternative site to be considered for the construction of a new pitch and putt golf centre.
Down Grange is currently earmarked for the six-hole facility, which will replace the current nine-hole Basingstoke Golf Centre if Great Wolf is allowed to build a new waterpark and hotel resort on the land it currently occupies.
A petition to stop the pitch and putt from being built at Down Grange currently has more than 6,300 signatures. Groups and individuals who use Down Grange for sport and recreational activities have been vocal in their opposition, with some speaking at the meeting last week.
Protestors at Down Grange(Image: Suzie Johnston)
During the meeting, Cllr Sean Dillow asked which sites were considered as alternatives to Down Grange and how the shortlist was decided.
Cllr Kerry Morrow, cabinet member for sport, infrastructure and leisure, said: “We reviewed all council-owned land in the borough, this came out with 48 sites.
“We then assessed these sites based on their size and ability to accomodate the facilities. A lot of them were very small and wouldn’t have allowed golf to fit in there.
“The remaining shortlisted sites following this process were Down Grange, Old Down, Beggarwood Park, Chineham Park, Popley Community Park, War Memorial Park and Old Common, and Manydown South.
“All the sites are challenging in some way due to conservation issues, size, loss of play area being used for borough events, safety and lack of infrastructure, amongst others.”
Cllr Andy McCormick expressed his disbelief that out of all of these sites, Down Grange, was the one chosen.
He said: “I’m shocked this came out on top – Manydown, Worting, are not too far from the existing pitch and putt, and this isn’t as good – six holes, not nine – the more I think about it, the more I think we are shortchanging our residents.
“The depth of feeling tonight, the last time I can recall a petition of that size is over 20 years ago, when we had a petition of 8,000 to save the swimming pool at Sports Centre.”
Several members of the public spoke at the meeting to request that the council consider an alternative, including Lucy Wain, who addressed councillors on behalf of the petition, saying: “From dog walkers to community events, Down Grange is a place that holds value to us.
“Down Grange is an essential part of community life that brings together people from all walks of life. It gave me the headspace to get back into society after a difficult time.
“Down Grange appears to be a patch of pretty land for the taking. Despite the strength of feeling against the development, lack of need, and obvious discrimination, the council push ahead with a sense of desperation.
“It is quite frankly astounding, a square peg is just never going to fit in that round hole.
“Over 6,300 people signed this petition – an extraordinary number of people have spoken and you need to hear them.”