EVEN more golfers will be able to practice their swing as a Kendal golf club received the council's blessing for its expansion plans.

South Lakeland District Council's planning committee has given conditional approval for a new 12-bay driving range and a building to house a shop, reception and locker room at the Carus Green Golf Club on Burneside Road.

The development will receive full permission from the authority's planning officers as long as concerns raised by the Environment Agency are overcome and the club can ensure that new floodlights do not shine directly into neighbouring homes.

The Environment Agency had objected to the plans on the grounds that the site was on a flood plain, but the golf club's planning agents believed their concerns could be resolved, as did Coun Malcolm Alston.

"A golf driving range is one of the few activities suited to a flood plain because it's not going to keep the water from soaking away and people aren't going to play if it's under water."

Club owners Fred and Eileen Downham are in New Zealand and were unable to comment on the plans.

February 7, 2003 10:31