"Brandon Wood golf course to close permanently"

The council, which owns the land, says it has been losing money for some time



Coventry's Brandon Wood golf course will permanently close its doors when the national lockdown lifts next week.

A statement posted on their website confirms the course will not reopen on December 2 as it has been losing money for some time.

Throughout the pandemic, the facility, which is located in Wolston, has been provided with additional funding and support, but is no longer viable to operate.

Staff have been made aware of the closure with a consultation period now starting.

Coventry City Council, which owns the land the golf course is on, said it would continue to work with Coventry Sports Trust, which runs the site, to provide support to those where necessary

The website confirms that all facilities at the club are now closed and that memberships will be cancelled.

Any money owed to the public will be refunded and people are being reminded to cancel their direct debit.

Refunds can also be applied to driving range cards and gift vouchers.

The council will now begin an options appraisal of the facility, including whether a golf course can be sustained or if an alternative use for the site will be appropriate.

Brand new nature reserve to be opened in Coventry as Brandon Wood Golf course transformed



Brandon Wood Golf Course is set to become a nature reserve with rich wildlife habitats as part of a new project. Plans would see the 64-hectare site linked with surrounding land to create more than 350 hectares of natural ecosystems and waterways.

Councillors are set to discuss plans that would see the fairways, greens, and bunkers replaced with wetlands, grasslands, ponds, and hedgerows. Areas will be managed by the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.

Habitats would provide new homes for a variety of wildlife while establishing high-quality green spaces and waterways. Councillor O'Boyle said the project would create the largest nature-managed area in the West Midlands.

Brandon Golf Course closed permanently in December 2020. Several redevelopment options were explored, but none proved financially or environmentally viable as the site was also prone to flooding.

Permission is needed from Rugby Borough Council for the project. Coventry City Council would then collaborate with Warwickshire County Council and the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, based at the neighbouring Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve.

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust will be responsible for creating and maintaining the new ecosystems, which will be achieved through a range of techniques, including introducing a herd of cattle for natural grazing. Keeping the land empty would carry an annual maintenance cost of £70,000 and a continued risk of fly-tipping.

Ed Green, CEO of the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, said: “Bringing the former golf course into management for wildlife joins up several sites across the wider Brandon area and creates the scale needed to support several key species. People in the future can expect to see ospreys, bitterns and perhaps even beavers one day, just a few minutes from the city centre.”

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/brand-new-nature-reserve-opened-33083291