A golf driving range and minigolf course have been given the go-ahead on the edge of a town.
Local businessman Daniel Cundy is keen to create the new leisure facility in a field off Meadow Drove in Bourne.
South Kesteven District Council’s planning committee members discussed his application on Thursday (February 19) to change the use of the agricultural land for the leisure facility with clubhouse and 70 parking spaces.
A drawing of how the golf driving range would look. Image: Daniel Cundy / SKDC
They heard from a resident who was among those who had expressed concerns to the council about golfers adding to traffic in neighbouring Dyke village.
She said most would drive to the facility because they would be taking golf clubs with them, and suggested construction noise and lighting at the driving range may affect a nearby ‘owl tower’, which is used by owls during the breeding season.
Mr Cundy was asked about proposed opening hours for the facility, which were not outlined on his application.
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He expressed a desire for the driving range to be open daily but was unclear as to whether opening at 10am, or earlier to cater for golfers wishing to practice before work, was most appropriate for the business.
He tentatively suggested 10am to 8pm, with lighting used during winter evenings.
Planning office Adam Murray said the submission of an operational management plan by the applicant could set out opening hours and when lighting would be turned on and off, along with the maximum number of users that would be allowed on site at any one time.
Chairman of the planning committee Charmaine Morgan (Ind – Grantham St Vincent’s) proposed the application’s approval, subject to the submission of the management and lighting plan.
Seconding this, Coun Paul Fellows (Ind – Bourne Austerby) said he didn’t understand golf, but thought the driving range was a ‘wonderful’ idea for the area.
The application to change the use of the land was approved unanimously by the committee, subject to the additional details.