Bid for golf range drives worried villagers to object

Applicant Robert Laws is seeking planning permission to build the timber driving range, with an attached office and toilet facility, in the field at Houghton North Farm on the village outskirts.

Next month members of Castle Morpeth Borough Council will be recommended by officers to reject the bid, which has generated protests from a number of different sources.

Objections have been received from 22 local residents, Heddon-on-the-Wall Parish Council and the Northumberland branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England.

They all say the site is too small. There are also objections on the grounds of road safety, effect on the green belt, visual impact and the loss of agricultural land.

Mr Laws has sought to minimise the safety risk by promising to use only special golf balls with a maximum range of 200 metres, and screen the facility with trees.

A report to the borough council's development services committee says the nearest property is within 160 metres of the driving range and the public bridleway is only 110 metres away.

In addition, it would be very difficult to enforce the use of a specific type of ball.

"The site is relatively small and it has not been demonstrated that the proposed planting will provide neighbouring land with an effective shield against stray golf balls," it adds.