Bailiffs have repossessed a golf course in Portishead. North Somerset Council, which owns the land formerly used as Portishead Approach Golf Course, sent in bailiffs on Monday (April 25).
The Approach Golf Course has been let to concessionaire Adrian Stiff for several years. But the course, at Nore Road, has been mothballed since April 2018 after a number of issues between Mr Stiff and the authority, reports Somerset Live.
The council says there is four years' rent for the land outstanding. Mr Stiff took over the golf course - where American TV star Kelsey Grammar once played, in 2014 on a 25-year lease from the council.
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But after two footpaths that cross the course were made official rights of way following a campaign by local residents Mr Stiff said it was no longer viable to operate. The paths were recognised as dedicated rights of way following a lengthy campaign by local residents Ann Townsend and Janet Davey.
The pair swung into action after hearing that people were being stopped from walking across the course – an activity they had enjoyed for years – on health and safety grounds. Mr Stiff said the decision, which he claimed made three holes unusable, meant he couldn't expand the course to make it bigger and better – and attract more business.
He also had permission to expand the golf course which he says was held back due to the council demanding a geological survey costing tens of thousands of pounds take place first. North Somerset Council had previously asked Mr Stiff to surrender the lease for the golf course.
Last year it announced it was starting legal action to take back the land. It is understood that now it is back in the authority’s ownership, an application will be made to list it as a town green, protecting it as an open green space for perpetuity.
Councillor Ash Cartman, North Somerset Council executive member for corporate services, said: “Given the unpaid rent arrears and failure to maintain the site, we’ve acted to forfeit the lease in order to be able to protect the future of this land.
“This is a good example of partnership working with North Somerset Council, Portishead Town Council and local residents all involved in planning this action. Thank you to everyone involved in getting us to this point.”
