While Birmingham City Council considers the planning application submitted by Bloor Homes for North Worcestershire Golf Course, I know many local residents remain concerned about security of the site. Here is an update on those issues from what I have been able to find out:
Even though it closed for Golf some weeks ago, responsibility for the site remains with the Golf Club which is still in existence as its owners.
I have therefore been in touch with the Club on a number of occasions to clarify exactly what site security arrangements they have in place. Richard Williams, the Club Secretary, has confirmed to me that up to date contact details for the Club are those displayed on their website www.nwgolfclub.com
The e-mail address is secretary@nwgolfclub.com and the telephone number is 07492 853 891. This telephone number is also displayed on the gate to the site.
I asked Mr Williams about arrangements for monitoring this number and he has told me that “the telephone number provided on the gate and our website is a dedicated number and continuously monitored 24 hrs per day.”
He also told me that the Club have recently agreed with the Police Dog unit that they have use the land daily for dog exercising and training purposes and that signs to that effect are being displayed at both entrances. The Police also have access and use of the clubhouse building for search and other possible training purposes.
Residents have also asked me about the future of the Clubhouse, about its contents and about insurance liability. Here is another extract from the Club’s letter to me on 13th May:
“The Worcestershire Golf Union have been donated our relevant archive material for their safe keeping. Also during our clearance of the clubhouse we discovered a ceremonial banner belonging to The Northfield Round Table who at one time had used our premises for their regular meetings. This has now been returned for safe keeping to that organisation.
All confidential and sensitive material is being removed and commercially shredded by an appropriate company, our accounts are stored in accordance with Inland Revenue regulations. An auction took place this week and all of our grass cutting machinery, golf course equipment plus the contents of the clubhouse were sadly disposed of. The clubhouse is currently being securely boarded up with all services disconnected. We retain a valid public liability insurance for the property.“
I hope this is useful information for residents
