Lewisham Council will be closing the last public golf course in London at the end of October, despite a strong campaign against it.
Within the grounds of Beckenham Place Park stands the grade II listed Beckenham Manor, there is also a sensory garden, woodland walks and tennis courts. These are all great facilities that make the park very appealing to families looking for a good day out close to home, but perhaps the most appealing aspect of the park to the general public is its 18-hole golf course.
The Beckenham Place Park golf club is the last golf club in London that does not require you to join as a private member, paying an initiation fee of what is often thousands of pounds. This golf club is open to the public, it is one of the only golf clubs that offers tuition from a PGA golf pro that is pay as you go and affordable, presenting an opportunity for anyone from any walk of life to learn to play and enjoy golf, a sport which is generally elitist and inaccessible to many. However, thanks to Lewisham Council who are responsible for the upkeep of the park this will be no more.
The Council will scrap the golf course (open to the public since 1934) in favour of a remodelled park with a boating lake and “improved views” courtesy of 250 bulldozed trees. This has sparked outrage among members of the Beckenham and Lewisham community, with protests and petitions. Only 400 people and 30 schools were consulted in this decision whereas 8000 signatures have been raised in protest. The blame for this loss can lie solely on the shoulders of Lewisham Council, who since they took over the park in 1972 have allowed it to fall slowly into disrepair. Under their supervision the manor house has become dilapidated and the course and its facilities have deteriorated.
Many members of the community have expressed shock and sadness at the upcoming closure of the golf course, Kerrie Phillips said that she “still cannot believe that in a few weeks the council are going to cut down all those trees” and Anthony Birchley commented “What a tragedy. I don’t think I’ll ever forgive Lewisham council for this.” There is still no idea as to how any income will be generated for the park with the loss of the £400,000 paid a year by the golfers, and for all the money they plan to invest in cutting down trees and making a lake there is still not a plan for any repairs to be made to the manor. Lewisham council are the culprits of causing an unnecessary loss to the people of this area and it is likely that the Beckenham Place Park will decline further with this supposed re-development.
Amelia Mielniczek
Bromley High Schoool
