Cllr Elaine Wales (Lab, Bletchley Park Ward) has won a victory for residents and secured the future of an 18 hole golf course in Bletchley.
Private developers Evolve Project Management previously wanted to replace Windmill Hill Golf Course, owned by Milton Keynes Council, with a new SportsHub.
The SportsHub proposal included building up to 125 new homes alongside indoor and outdoor tennis courts, a golf centre, new golf course layout, a cricket centre, a gymnastics centre, a learner swimming pool, a soft play centre, and a coffee outlet.
While Cllr Wales has made clear she wants to see investment in Windmill Hill Golf Course to improve the range of sports activities that can be provided, she has always maintained that a red line would be saving a full 18 hole course on the site.
She said: “We have long wanted to see investment in the golf course, but it was important to ensure that Windmill Hill retains an 18 hole golf course. I believe we have persuaded the developer to include an 18 hole golf course in any planning application to improve the site.
“I recently met with golfers at the course who told me they choose to play at Windmill Hill because it is an 18 green course. They love it.”
Milton Keynes Council says Windmill Hill currently loses a substantial amount of money. It has been a battleground for residents for years, with a plan to close the course and redevelop it all as housing defeated around 10 years ago.
Cllr Nigel Long, whose ward is 25 metres from the golf course entrance, added: “I first tried to secure investment in the golf course 25 years ago in 1995. It is not easy. We need to secure a radical investment plan for the course whilst retaining an 18 hole golf course.”
The council has plans to work with the Lawn Tennis Association and has secured millions in investment to develop a regional tennis performance centre on the site. However, the council had planned to reduce the course to 9 holes and develop housing on some of the site.
Following discussions led by Cllr Wales and her intervention with Cllr Robert Middleton, Cabinet Member for Resources on Milton Keynes Council, she has secured the promise to retain an 18 hole golf course at Windmill Hill from potential developer the Evolve Group.
Cllr Elaine Wales concluded: “I believe that this investment and partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association will secure the long term future of the facility, although I will be pushing for that protection to be cast iron if the plans are taken forward.”
