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Deangate Ridge golf course could host offices under plans from Medway Norse

A former golf club could host office space under plans by the council’s contractors.

Medway Norse, which is located on part of the Deangate site on Hoo, applied for the planning permission for a temporary change of use which would see the first floor of the clubhouse being used as an office.

Hoo residents are concerned over planning application for golf course

Car parking for the office and some minibuses would also be included, as well as space to store 17 shipping containers.

The change of use would last until 2021.

The golf course was closed last year after council officers concluded it had made a loss of more than £1.5 million over a seven-year period and was suffering from dwindling membership.

Earlier this year, the council pledged £150,000 towards assessments on how best to redevelop it.

George Crozer, of the Deangate Community Partnership, said: “We were able to get this whole site, that includes the Deangate site, the golf course and the recreation grounds registered with the council as an asset of community value. We feel its important for it to remain within the community as a place where we can recreate.

What the site looks like now. Picture: Tony Broad (16313279)
What the site looks like now. Picture: Tony Broad (16313279)

“We feel this recent planning application has made that opportunity worse.

“Also within that planning application, they’ve got the words ‘waste’ written in there, so we are really frightened now that we are going to see all the waste lorries here and the site being taken over for a waste depot and we absolutely don’t want that

“We want it to be used as a community asset, we want it to be used for the people of the Peninsula and the people of Medway to use.”

An asset of community value is a building or piece of land which can be used to further the social wellbeing or interests of the local community.

Ward councillor Ron Sand (Ind) said: “This was the lung of the Peninsula. Two years down the line, we don’t know what’s going to happen.

Medway Norse declined to comment.

The plans are due to be considered by Friday, October 4.

Read more: All the latest news from Medway

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