£15m offer for Meole Brace Golf Course in Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury's municipal golf course could be sold off in a multi-million pound deal after the council revealed it had been approached with an offer.

Councillor Keith Barrow, leader of Shropshire Council, told a public meeting last night that his officers have received an offer from a third party for Meole Brace Golf Course. It is understood to be in the region of £15 million to £18 million.

Councillor Barrow, speaking at the "Join the Conversation" meeting at the town's Theatre Severn, said offloading the 12-hole parkland course, which also features a pitch-and-putt, was an option the council was considering.

But he vowed there would be full public consultation before any such move was considered.

He also warned that the money received would not be able to be spent on council services and would have to be re-invested in other capital projects.

Councillor Barrow said: "We are doing a complete review of what assets we have got. One of the things talked about was the golf course at Shrewsbury and someone has actually approached us about buying the golf course.

"One of the things I am asking is should we be running a golf course? If we shouldn't then maybe we should cash in on it."

Mr Barrow confessed that he was not a golf player and accepted that any plans to sell the course may result in opposition from some people.

BBC Radio Shropshire presenter Eric Smith, who was compering the meeting, asked for a hand poll of audience members over whether the golf course should be sold with the results being about a 50/50 split.

One audience member warned that offloading the course to a private company would be like "selling the family silver".

And Dave Kilby, of Shropshire Playing Fields Association, said the site was an important area of green space between housing developments and should be protected.

By Russell Roberts