Jim Parker: End of pitch and putt isn't just down to balls damaging Barn

The controversial axing of the Torquay seafront pitch and putt attraction because stray golf balls were damaging the nearby historic Spanish Barn is quite frankly just that - a load of balls!

Yep, the damage caused by flying balls to the roof of the building where French prisoners during the Napoleonic War were once incarcerated had a part to play in the Torbay Council decision to terminate the pitch and putt lease with the current leaseholder, forsaking the £12,000 a year rent and putting out of bounds a facility that has brought fun and joy - not to mention exercise - to thousands of locals and visitors alike over the last 60 years.

But the reality and the main reason is that the council wants to make more use of the rare medieval tithe barn with Grade One listing status and, more to the point, to the entire 17.8 acres of Torre Abbey which is a scheduled monument, the highest designation available in this country and the same as that held by Stonehenge. It has some of the best-preserved monastic ruins in Devon and Cornwall, much of them below the surface.

And if the Town Hall ever went to the likes of English Heritage or the National Lottery for funding for such a transformational yet sensitive project with a pitch and putt course laying in front and over ancient monuments going back to the 12th century, they would be immediately bunkered.

Council leader Dave Thomas said: "It would be like asking to put a pitch and putt alongside Stonehenge. The whole world would be up in arms."

The local authority is going ahead with its plan that from November the land taken up by the nine-hole course will be ‘repurposed and returned to community use’.

More than 1,000 people have signed a petition to save the facility which claims the course is ‘literally the last public amenity to enjoy in Torquay’.

The council has been debating the future of the facility since a report from council officers in January highlighted damage done to the Spanish Barn’s roof by those wayward golf balls. The council believes the risk of damage to the Spanish Barn can be reduced and says it is exploring alternative uses for the area which will maximise its archaeological history.

In a statement, the council added: “Putting the land back into community use will be the next phase of a huge restoration programme at the abbey, with potential funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The council says future uses could include sustainable planting, green sports infrastructure, play and events."

Local residents, the chamber of commerce, and campaigners have been up in arms and questions raised in the council chamber. One of the biggest complaints is that nobody saw this coming and they weren't consulted.

Resident Judith Evans said: "It is totally unacceptable to not consult with the public on one of the few remaining family amenities that has been managed and lovingly maintained at Torre Abbey for 60 years. It seems the full picture is blurred and the wayward golf balls may not be the main reason for permanent closure which seems to be being reported. Should the council not allow the pitch and putt leaseholder to continue under different terms especially if it could take many years for a change of use and having lost the £12k income as well as now incurring maintenance costs."

Dave Crawford, born and bred in the Bay, said: "I have raised many issues that I feel are not in the best interests of the Bay and Torquay in particular. There is precious little for our children to entertain themselves in outside leisure activities in Torquay on their own or with family and friends. To remove the popular pitch and putt in front of Torre Abbey is a retrograde step in further reducing the facilities to the very bare minimum of family fun in a healthy and joyful outside activity for our children and families to enjoy.

"The facts are yes, some minor damage from wayward golf balls, which led to the leaseholder changing the course layout at his expense and moving hole five to a safer area. Five years ago a scaffold was put around the Spanish Barn to facilitate some roof repairs. The overwhelming roofing issue allowing water into the Spanish Barn was indeed due to nail failure holding the slate tiles onto battens slipping down. There is much more going on in a clandestine way, which is going on behind closed doors."

Council leader Thomas is up front with the future plans. He says that as landlords, the council was within its legal rights to enact a break clause in the lease without public consultation. He claimed the future of the lease and pitch and putt had been raised at least a couple of times since 2011, and he promised proper consultation when there was a proposal to consult on.

He said the stray golf balls were the 'headline-grabbing' focus for closing the pitch and putt, but he conceded: "The land from Torre Abbey and the pitch and putt going down to the seafront is designated as ancient monument status, the same as Stonehenge. If we ever had to go to English Heritage to put a pitch and putt there you can imagine the conversation. They have not been happy with us.

"We want to do some work with the Spanish Barn. We want to open it up for events, restaurant facilities. It would make a great wedding venue. The only way to do that is to find a funding partner like English Heritage or the National Lottery. We will get nothing if we have a pitch and putt in that location.

"When the land comes back to us on November 1, we will remove the fencing at either end, and there will be a walkway from Torre Abbey down to the seafront. We will remove the bunkers and holes and level the land in a couple of places. We will then consult with the community over the use of the land."

He added: "There is a lot of archaeology under that land. We will not be looking to expose that archaeology. There are a series of buildings under there, but from a cultural perspective, it is better to keep them covered. There may be some 'Geo' stuff done and mapping it all."

Cllr Thomas revealed the current pitch and putt tenant had been offered three alternative sites, which, quite understandably, they had so far turned down. I just hope we can reach a compromise here and find a new location for what is an important attraction.

Just as crucial is that we do a proper job with the historic gem and land that is Torre Abbey. A walkway down to the prom after a nice Devon cream tea in the Barn sounds great. But what about our very own Stonehenge-by-the-sea!

The council believes the risk of damage to the Spanish Barn can be reduced and says it is exploring alternative uses for the area which will maximise its archaeological history.
In a statement, the council added: “Putting the land back into community use will be the next phase of a huge restoration programme at the abbey, with potential funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The council says future uses could include sustainable planting, green sports infrastructure, play and events."
Local residents, the chamber of commerce and campaigners have been up in arms and questions raised in the council chamber. One of the biggest complaints is that nobody saw this coming and they weren't consulted.
Resident Judith Evans said: "It is totally unacceptable to not consult with the public on one of the few remaining family amenities that has been managed and lovingly maintained at Torre Abbey for 60 years. It seems the full picture is blurred and the wayward golf balls may not be the main reason for permanent closure which seems to be being reported. Should the council not allow pitch and putt leaseholder to continue under different terms especially if it could take many years for change of use and having lost the £12k income as well as now incurring maintenance costs."
Dave Crawford, born and bred in the Bay, said: "I have raised many issues that I feel are not in the best interests of the Bay and Torquay in particular. There is precious little for our children to entertain themselves in outside leisure activities in Torquay on their own or with family and friends. To remove the popular pitch and Putt in front of Torre Abbey is a retrograde step in further reducing the facilities to the very bare minimum of family fun in a healthy and joyful outside activity for our children and families to enjoy.
"The facts are yes some minor damage from wayward golf balls which led to the leaseholder changing the course layout at his expense and moved hole five to a safer area. Five years ago a scaffold was put around the Spanish Barn to facilitate some roof repairs.
"The overwhelming roofing issue allowing water into the Spanish Barn was indeed due to nail failure holding the slate tiles onto battens slipping down. There is much more going on in a clandestine way which is going on behind closed doors."
Council leader Thomas is up front with the future plans. He says that as landlords the council was within its legal rights to enact a break clause in the lease without public consultation. He claimed the future of the lease and pitch and putt had been raised at least a couple of times since 2011 and he promised proper consultation when there was a proposal to consult on.
He said the stray golf balls was the 'headline-grabbing' focus for closing the pitch and putt but he conceded: "The land from Torre Abbey and the pitch and putt going down to the seafront is designated as ancient monument status, the same as Stonehenge.If we ever had to go to English Heritage to put a pitch and putt there you can imagine the conversation. They have not been happy with us.
"We want to do some work with the Spanish Barn. We want to open it up for events, restaurant facilities. It would make a great wedding venue. The only way to do that is to find a funding partner like English Heritage or the National Lottery. We will get nothing if we have a pitch and putt in that location.
"When the land comes back to us on November 1 we will remove the fencing at either end and there will be a walkway from Torre Abbey down to the seafront. We will remove the bunkers and holes and level the land in a couple of places. We will then consult with the community over the use of the land."
He added: "There is a lot of archeology under that land. We will not be looking to expose that archeology. There are a series of buildings under there but from a cultural perspective it is better to keep them covered. There may be some 'Geo' stuff done and mapping it all."
Cllr Thomas revealed the current pitch and putt tenant had been offered three alternative sites which, quite understandably, they had so far turned down. I just hope we can reach a compromise here and find a new location for what is an important attraction.
Just as crucial is that we do a proper job with the historic gem and land that is Torre Abbey. A walkway down to the prom after a nice Devon cream tea in the Barn sounds great. But what about our very own Stonehenge-by-the-sea!