Shrewsbury's Meole Brace Pitch and Putt site could be sold

Shropshire Council has listed "Meole Brace Pitch and Putt" as an item to be discussed behind closed doors at the November 30 meeting of its cabinet.

Councillor Jon Tandy, who represents Bayston Hill, Column and Sutton, said that he would not be surprised to see the pitch & putt sold off, but would expect the golf course to be retained.

He said: "It is a prime piece of real estate that really and truly has not been used to its potential, which is a shame because I never like to see any community facilities lost.

"But with the financial difficulties we are having in the council and the decisions we have got to take to help with adult social care and other essential services unfortunately this is one of the things that could be lost, but it would help the community in other ways."

Councillor Alan Mosley, leader of Shrewsbury Town Council, said it would make sense to put the pitch & putt on the market.

He also reiterated the town council's interest in taking on the management of the actual golf course.

He said: "It is a prime site and I think people are expecting that it will be put on the market for a sensible piece of development.

"However, the town council maintains the golf course on behalf of Shropshire Council and would be interested in taking over its management but any attempt to diminish or close parts of the facility would be severely resisted."

The cabinet discussion relates solely to the pitch & putt part of the club, and there is no suggestion that the golf course itself could be sold off.

Earlier this year council chief executive, Clive Wright said there was no plan to sell the club – believed to be worth in excess of £15 million.

Speaking in July he said the site may not always be a golf course but will always be available as public amenity.

"There are no specific plans around the golf course and all plans would be subject to planning approval," he said.

"There would have to be a public amenity around there. It may not always be a golf course – that said there are no plans to anything with it – but it will always be for public amenity."

The council has also stated in recent months that it plans to use the sale of land and assets to raise money to pay for large capital projects, such as the authority's new IT system.

Shropshire Council declined to comment on the issue.