The news that Kirklees’ only municipal golf course could be paved over to make way for new homes will shock many.
The council has earmarked the green belt site between Bradley Road and the M62 to potentially provide 2,000 of the 30,000 it needs, including 10,000 already plotted in.
It says the proposal would be considered alongside plans for a new junction 24A slip road from the M62. Roads chiefs are mulling the idea to relieve congestion at junctions 24 and 25.
A new school would be provided to cater for the hundreds of extra families. The scale of the site is boosted by adjoining farm land behind the Villa Farm Shop and a plot adjacent to Tithe House Way.
Huddersfield has no other public golf courses.
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Kirklees planning official Richard Hollinson, said: “Bradley Park is currently green belt in the unitary development plan and there are small pockets of local wildlife interest on the site. But it’s not the whole site.
“The evidence suggests that for the district as a whole there are too many golf courses for the number of golfers. There’s an over-supply of golf provision.
“In order for the council to bring a site like this forward, there would have to be more work done on how we provide some replacement provision.
“There is Willow Valley (at Brighouse) and other courses in Calderdale”.
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Clr Peter McBride said: “We’ve got some ideas. We want to help the existing golfers at Bradley to find other places to engage in their sport.”
In January 2014, then Kirklees parks chief John Fletcher, told the Examiner the golf course was not being sold off amid its transfer to Kirklees Active Leisure.
He said: “The complex is as safe as any, given its profitability and reputation as the best municipal facility in the north of England.”
Golfers enjoying the course at Bradley said they were saddened it could go.
Clive Betts, 62, of Slaithwaite, said: “It’s absolutely ridiculous. It’s rated as one of the best courses. Don’t they have any pride?
“Here you can just come, pay and play. It’s an affordable course.
“We’re not even members and we’ve used this for years.”
Steve Hirst, 64, of Kirkburton, said: “They have championships here. Haven’t they other places without having to build on a golf course?”
John Clark, 66, of Thornhill, said: “I’ve been playing here for years and it’s a good course.Can’t they build the houses somewhere else?
“It’s terrible.”
