Rottingdean pitch and putt put back on course

11:20am Monday 28th January 2013 in News By Peter Truman

Councillor Lynda Hyde at Rottingdean pitch and putt Councillor Lynda Hyde at Rottingdean pitch and putt

A popular pitch and putt course has been thrown a lifeline thanks to The Argus.

The Rottingdean course looked doomed after the former leaseholder decided not to renew its contract with Brighton and Hove City Council at the end of last year.

The Argus revealed earlier this month how the local authority had filled in the holes with concrete to stop people playing while it was shut.

The facility had been taken off the market because of a lack of interest and discussions had begun on whether to transform the site into a nature reserve.

But after a surge in interest following publicity in The Argus, the council has decided to put it back up for rent.

Ward councillor Lynda Hyde met with council officers on Friday, January 25, to discuss the future of the course.

Renewed interest

She said: “Following the publicity in The Argus over the filling in of holes and the subsequent national press coverage, there has been a renewed interest in the course.

“I have been contacted by local business people who are very interested in submitting a bid.

“Due to the renewed interest and the earlier lack of information it has been agreed to market the course again.”

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She said she was delighted with the decision and hoped the course would reopen with improved facilities.

On the market

She added: “The Argus are to be congratulated in running the story and therefore bringing the issue to the attention of their readers and even further afield. I thank them for this.”

The current leaseholder had decided running both Rottingdean and nearby Roedean Pitch and Putt was uneconomical and chose to continue with the latter only.

It had been marketed by estate agents Cluttons since October last year but had failed to attract much interest.

Prospective leaseholders would face a maintenance bill of £23,500 per year.

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Comments(4)

Indigatio says...
12:27pm Mon 28 Jan 13

Quote "The facility had been taken off the market because of a lack of interest and discussions had begun on whether to transform the site into a nature reserve."

Nature Reserve, knowing the wonderful Green Council, somewhere else to put Sheep and Travellers more likely........

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worthingite says...
1:27pm Mon 28 Jan 13

A popular pitch and putt course has been thrown a lifeline thanks to The Argus.....

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Crystal Ball says...
1:42pm Mon 28 Jan 13

worthingite wrote:
A popular pitch and putt course has been thrown a lifeline thanks to The Argus.....
So in essence, the Schmargus has actually done nothing other than report the story which is their remit anyway.

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Clive Bonny says...
9:44am Thu 31 Jan 13

This story was also in the Sun and Telegraph embarrassing Brighton nationally nor will the Argus coverage save the facility
Argus should have published all the facts
The reason the previous tenant departed was because of cost and lack of marketing support by City Council.
The real direct tenancy cost is £23585 for green fees plus £5,850 rates = £29435 plus maintenance costs of the clubhouse
It was offered on a minimum 7 year lease equating to £210,000 investment to break even. Income is £6 per player. A tenant needs 35000 players to break even. If 20 paying players came every weekend all year round (optimistic as it is almost empty weekdays and in winter) this requires 1750 weeks or 33 years to recover the first 7 years costs.
If anyone takes this "offer" they will bankrupt themselves or die trying.
Our Councillors do not understand basic business economics, which is a matter of some concern as they govern a local budget of £750 million. Frightening really.

Additionally City Council action closing the golf facility, or offering uneconomic terms, contravenes their new draft Seafront Strategy which says on page 5

Objectives
O To identify new sport and recreational facilities for people to be physically
active on the Seafront to improve health and well-being.
O To attract new events to the Seafront to promote participation in sport,
recreation and cultural activities.
O To identify new cultural attractions on the Seafront to encourage more
people to visit the area.
O To support the location of the Seafront as a base for sports clubs.
O To encourage participation in active recreation through the provision of
improved recreational trails.

We can do without more local people losing their money and their livelihoods
Council should allow local unemployed people to run this, earn the money, and save welfare costs.
Additionally this will keep it open, bring tourists to our pubs and shops and support our local economy.

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