Use agricultural land to grow food not drive golf balls (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Use agricultural land to grow food not drive golf balls

10:51am Friday 1st August 2008 in Search

THEYDON Bois Action Group read with interest the article on page 26 (Epping Forest Guardian, July 17 edition, ‘Forget the forest – we’re just as famous for golf!’).

The article confirms that there are 17 golf courses in the Epping Forest district.

There are also many courses in close proximity in other districts. There are, in fact, 23 within a five-mile radius of Theydon Bois.

In 1999 Theydon Bois Golf Club commented on the Parsonage Golf application at Blunts Farm that “there is an over supply of golf courses in this part of Essex, there is a shortfall of 7,000 members already in Essex. If permission is given for another course this could result in dereliction of other courses in the area”.

Woodford Golf Club also commented that it is “a known fact that there are too many golf courses in the area and not enough players to support them. This will adversely affect the viability of well established courses”.

Those comments were passed in 1999. We can imagine the situation is considerably bleaker now.

Mr Lloyd Skinner (North Weald Golf Club) has to import landfill to remain financially viable. Is that right? Joan Ruddock, MPs, DEFRA, the Environment Agency and residents understand that it is not right and are doing what they can to change the situation.

We need to support our established golf courses, not develop new ones.

When will Epping Forest District Council realise that there are enough golf courses in the area?

Given the recent dramatic price rises in food and requirements for bio fuels we need our agricultural land to grow food not put golf balls.

Theydon Bois Action Group.