Hall Lane Mini Golf not opening as published
The pitch and putt and crazy golf site in Hall Lane, Upminster is facing a number of challenges, which started back in March this year with a planning application submitted by Havering Councils housing company, Mercury Land Holdings Ltd, for the building of 48 properties on the site. This has subsequently been followed two consultation processes, one for the ‘Appropriation’ (change of use) of the venue and the second for the ‘Disposal’ (sale) of the site.
Over the last few years, the Friends of Upminster Mini Golf Course have been working to bring the attraction up to a standard that would attract more visitors, including the renovation of the hut and the crazy golf course.
School holidays provide the perfect opportunity for groups of all ages to enjoy an activity that is accessible to most but although the holidays are well underway, Havering Council have failed to ensure the site is open at all of the published times for people wanting to play either pitch and putt or crazy golf.
Comments received by Cranham Ward Councillors include “How can we use this great local facility when it’s not open”, “My husband and son visited 29th July at 10.05, waited for 10 minutes. No one turned up to open up so they came home again having travelled from Grays.” Another resident suggested that they “visited at 10.50 today, gate was closed (as it is most days).”
Councillor Linda Van den Hende said “This is ridiculous. The school summer holidays are likely to be the busiest time in the calendar. I cannot believe something so simple as getting the site open for public access, causes such problems and negative publicity for this wonderful facility.”
Councillor John Tyler went on to say that, “The public are beginning to believe this is a deliberate ploy by the Council to ensure the site is shown in a bad light, with limited use and of little benefit to the area.”
The Cranham Councillors and the residents of Upminster and Cranham are clear that this is a site valued by all and should be given the opportunity to show what it can achieve, but this will require the support of the Council in ensuring the site is open for people to play pitch and putt as shown by the published timetables. During the school holidays the course is due to be open from 10am to 5pm everyday.
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