Golf Course Rebuild gets the Green Light

Plans to redesign the course at North Weald Golf club have been given the go-ahead by district councillors.

Epping forest council's planning committee granted permission for the l andscaping of the Rayley Lane course, on the condition that a legally binding agreement is drawn up between the council and the club.

Golf club director Andrew Lloyd-Skinner addressed the committee and distanced himself from the Blakes and Parsonage Farm projects.

Addressing concerns over truck numbers, he said: "The local community is our bread and butter, we will not alienate our client base in any way, especially not by having trucks constantly driving past their front door.

Councillors explored many aspects of the detailed plan, most notably regarding lorry access and soil use, fuelled concerns which led to an earlier review of the plans to be deferred until more information made available.

Councillor Janet Whitehouse voiced concern over the construction process and felt approval would give the green light to other companies thinking of doing the same.

She added: "It make residents, lives a misery and we should make a stand."

Councillor Jon Whitehouse also expressed doubts over lorry access, underlining a need to control lorry access to and from the site.

Councillor David Stallan was critical of the application process which had been created after the council's experience with Theydon Bois and Parsonage Farm.

He said: "I'm not against the plan, but my main concern is in the detail. We introduced the proforma especially for this sort of application and it's falling down on its first use.

"We ought to wait for the form to be completed before signing off."

However planning officers urged the committee to grant permission, and it was eventually passed by a majority vote.

Mr Lloyd-Skinner said of the decision: "I'm delighted approval has been granted. We can now plan the work that will improve the facilities at North Weald Golf Club for all golfers in the area."