'Halfway house' approved for Cannock Chase golf club
A "halfway house" has been given the green light at a Cannock Chase golf club so players can take a comfort break when it reopens.
The structure will be installed next to the 11th green at the Beau Desert Golf Club course based on Rugeley Road, Hazel Slade.
It will provide toilets so that players don't need to venture back to the club’s main buildings – as well as basic catering facilities.
Members on Cannock Chase District Council's planning committee voted unanimously to approve it after being shown plans of the facility which included a toilet cubicle with sufficient space for wheelchair access.
A supporting statement included in the committee report said: “The course was designed by renowned golf course architect Herbert Fowler and was originally opened in 1911.
"Overtime the course has become one of the best golf courses in the Midlands, listed within the top 100 golf courses in UK and Ireland.
"Unlike some golf courses which can return to the club house at the 9th hole, Beau Desert was designed as one continuous loop of 18 holes. Although very common, this type of design usually raises the issues of facilities on the golf course and traditionally these are normally located around the 9th hole.
"At Beau Desert however, the area around the 9th hole offers difficult constraints, The existing ground levels rise sharply up to the ninth green which sits on a small plateau.
"Not only do the existing levels and trees in this area make siting of a building almost impossible, this area of the course is also more visible to walkers and cyclists generally heading east from the residential areas of Hednesford towards Deercote Slade, Rainbow Valley and beyond.
"With this in mind, careful consideration was given to finding an alternative location on the course which not only explored the practical constraints but also respected advice relating to the sensitivity of the AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) and Green Belt and preserving its openness. The suggested location for the structure is adjacent to the 11th green.
"This area is in a natural secluded corner of the golf course created by a pocket of trees which is sited away from the vast majority of walkers and cyclists travelling east. It also provides an area which is large enough to site the building away from existing trees and also hidden away from other areas of the golf course by virtue in numerous existing tree scenes."
Councillor Alan Pearson said: "I have no problem with this at all. It’s something we should support – these sort of venues are losing money and have been over the past year."
Councillor Martyn Buttery added: “We should be supporting our local sports clubs who have struggled over the last 12 months. It’s good to see they’re investing in their facilities during the current climate – there are not many sports clubs that can do that at the moment."
