By Martin Dempster - The Scotsman
Dalmuir Municipal targeted once more by West Dunbartonshire Council.
Just
a year after it was saved from closure following a campaign that was
backed by Scotland footballer John McGinn, Dalmuir Municipal golf course
in Clydebank is under threat once again.
The
shock development, which is down to West Dunbartonshire Council
continuing to be under financial pressure, was revealed in an update
shared by Clydebank Overtoun on change.org.
It read: “Once again, we have received notice of possible closure of
Dalmuir Municipal golf course. The petition received over 7000
signatures and we were given assurances that the course would remain and
be untouched. Unfortunately, only 12 months on and the threat of
closure is more realistic than ever.”
It has been confirmed to The Scotsman that Dalmuir is indeed back on the chopping board, with a crunch meeting set to take place early next month.
A
West Dunbartonshire Council spokesperson said: “This is one of a number
of options to be considered by councillors as part of work to close a
budget gap of at least £7million while continuing to protect jobs and
vital services as far as possible. No decision can or will be taken
until the Council budget meeting on 5th March.”
Aston
Villa midfielder McGinn, who grew up in Clydebank and had played at
Dalmuir over the years, led the initial fight to keep the course open.
He was joined by fellow local man Craig Connelly, one of the top caddies
in the professional game, as well as lots of other well-known names in
golf.
It
was a cause for celebration when the course was saved, but now a fresh
campaign is being launched on the back of the latest development.
The petition on Change.org
reads: "For nearly a century, Dalmuir Golf Course has been an integral
part of our community. As long-standing residents and frequent visitors,
we have found solace, companionship and an affordable golfing
experience on its well-maintained greens, which rank among the finest in
the UK's municipal golf courses.
"Our
beloved golf course serves not just as a venue for enjoying a round or
two of golf, but as a therapeutic space that aids in improving physical
and mental well-being. Nevertheless, our cherished source of deep
community ties and well-being is under threat due to the proposed
closure by the West Dunbartonshire Council
"This alarming proposition fails to consider the blow it inflicts on our
community and the loyal members who consider its existence pivotal to
their daily lives. Not to mention, the closure undermines the municipal
golfing culture in the UK and sets a precedent for other public
facilities to face similar fates.
"We
seek to protect and preserve Dalmuir Golf Course. By doing so, we hold
onto a piece of our community's heritage, facilitate affordable access
to sports and fitness, and support a resource that contributes
significantly to mental and physical well-being.
“We
implore the West Dunbartonshire Council to review their decision and
safeguard this longstanding community asset for present and future
generations. Show your support for Dalmuir Golf Course by signing this
petition."
Connolly,
who currently works for two-time major winner Martin Kaymer on the LIV
Golf League, said he’d been dismayed by the latest threat to his local
course.
“Really
don't know what to say,” he wrote in a post on social media. “I
drive/walk past the facility they have there in the park every day and
it is an utter disgrace that @WDCouncil have left it to rot away. Two bowling greens... gone. Two tennis courts... gone. A cafe that has lay derelict for years.”
