A well-established golf driving range has permanently closed after more than 50 years of business.

Owners of Kearsley Golf Driving Range, Michael and Wendy Warburton, stated in a Facebook post that they would be permanently closing due to the current economic climate.

It comes after plans were put forward in October of last year to turn the golf course - which sits on green belt land – into housing.

The centre’s owners plan to demolish the driving range along with a club house, support living accommodation and various outbuildings to make way for the small housing estate.

The Bolton News: Site Context (Source: Google Earth [not to scale])Site Context (Source: Google Earth [not to scale]) (Image: Public)

The couples Facebook post said: “Due to the economic climate Kearsley Golf Range has made the hard decision to close permanently.

“Thank you to our customers and all the best for the future.”

If approved the land could see up to eight houses built, which would range from two to five bedrooms in size.

In the design and access statement it states that this would be in response to “the varying hosing demands in the area”.

Kearsley councillor Debbie Newall said: “The decision for the planning application was due on December 22, but this was delayed, and we are expecting a decision in the next couple of weeks.

The Bolton News:

“Even though it could be approved, it might be approved with conditions, but we don’t know what those conditions are.

“So, we will just wait and see now.

“I am sorry to see any facility like that go in the ward because it was very popular.

“I’ve lived here for 40 years and always had in my mind that it was there.

“But times are hard for businesses at the moment, especially with energy use.”

In a statement, FuZED Architecture and Design said: “The site was developed in the late 1960s and is still run as a family business today.

"There has been limited investment since its origin and currently requires extensive renovation to bring it up to the standards required for a modern golfing range club.

“Competition from new facilities such as the driving range at Trafford Golf Centre has created further difficulties with a decrease in demand.

“The site is within designated green belt.

"The proposal seeks to apply differing cumulative elements accepted in planning policy to qualify as a very special circumstances approach for the redevelopment of the site.

“The provision is for eight family dwellings consisting of properties in a range of sizes, 25 per cent of which are of an affordable housing tenure.”

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