Golfers say plans for fort threaten future of club
A GOLF club says plans to turn a historic fort into luxury flats could drive away members.
The Gosport and Stokes Bay Golf Club has recently celebrated its 125 year anniversary but it's concerned for its future after a government inspector approved Askett Hawk's plan to turn Fort Gilkicker into flats.
It means a road which runs through the golf course will be widened to three metres to allow lorries to come back and forth from the fort during building work.
The road, which is part of Solent Way, will then be used by residents to access the new development.
During an 18-hole round at the nine-hole course, golfers play across the road six times.
Ron Tovey, president of the golf club, who made his concerns known at the public inquiry in Gosport earlier this year, said: 'In playing 18 holes, each player drives across the road six times.
'Our main concern is the traffic from the proposal.
'The club now has 536 members.
'If traffic interferes with play, the club would lose members.
'To lose 10 members would cost the club 6,000 annual income.'
The golf club was reluctant to talk about the planning inspector's decision yesterday but The News understands that if the club was to lose 100 members because of the development it could place its future in serious jeopardy.
Members pay an annual fee of 525 a year to play at the club.
Askett Hawk is expected to pay compensation to the club as it will be building on the golf course when it widens the road.
Two passing points will also have to be built into the road, which will infringe on the golf course even further.
At present only pedestrians and cyclists use the right of way.
A source at the club, who did not want to be named, said: 'Some people could see it as the death knell of the club.
'But on the other hand people who move into the new flats may want to become members.
'If the club was to lose 100 members I wouldn't like to say what would happen.'
Building work at Fort Gilkicker - which overlooks the Solent and was built in 1871 - is not expected to start for another year.
It will then take two years to turn the fort into 26 luxury flats.
Askett Hawk has said turning the fort into flats is the only way to preserve the building.
It believes the development will be an asset to the people of Gosport.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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