Golf proposal

Overview

Sports services, including leisure centres, sports development and sport on parks, cost the council approximately £2.9 million each year in public subsidy. However, large cuts in government funding mean that we cannot continue to run services as we do now. Golf receives the highest subsidy per visit of all the sports facilities provided by the council and has far fewer usages per year compared to leisure centres.

Earlier this year we asked for your views on whether the council should continue to subsidise the two council-owned golf courses; Western Park and Humberstone Heights. You can read a summary of the results online at consultations.leicester.gov.uk/we_asked_you_said or pick up a copy from Customer Services, 91 Granby Street, Leicester, LE1 6FB.

Why your views matter

The first consultation revealed that there was sizable support behind the city council’s golf provision. We have listened to all views that were put forward and considered a number of possible options – including the closure of one or both municipal golf courses. The continuation of a financially viable and effective golf provision was the council’s primary focus.

As a result, the proposal we would like to consult on is to close one golf course and further invest into the other one. This would enable the council to continue providing a quality municipal golf course while also making the necessary budget savings.

The Proposal

We propose that the council continues to run, maintain and further invest in the golf course at Humberstone Heights and close the golf course at Western Park.

We will look to invest substantial capital into Humberstone Heights, providing the course with a refurbishment programme – enhancing the course’s quality along with improvements to existing club, bar and changing facilities.

Background Information

In the year 2013/14, the council subsidy for Western Park Golf Course was £123,000 and for Humberstone Heights Golf Course was £63,000.

Humberstone Heights offers golfers a greater range of facilities than Western Park. There are more members, season ticket holders and more casual users at Humberstone Heights than there are at Western Park, as well as more female members and more juniors. This enables Humberstone Heights to consistently generate more income, costing the council less money to maintain and operate.

Leicester City Council would like to hear from you on this new proposal. We will consider all ideas that are put forward before taking our next steps.

Please only complete the survey once. Multiple submissions may not be counted.