MORE than 30 campaigners turned out to hear councillors discuss the future of Sherdley Golf Course and driving range at the cabinet meeting yesterday.

Members of Sherdley Park Golf Club packed the town hall's cabinet meeting to hear how the council has had to review all of its services to reduce operational costs in the face of budget cuts, leaving the future of the course on shaky ground.

Many turned out to protest against the closure but met news that alternative options were being considered with cautious optimism.

Councillor Seve Gomez-Aspron said: “This isn’t a decision to close the golf course today, this is about highlighting what is going on and trying to come up with some kind of sustainable model going forward.

“Difficult trading conditions continue for golf services both nationwide and locally and the report shows that.

“Although costs have been covered at the site and changes have been made to the pricing structure, it has failed to make a profit over the past six years at least.

“The downward pressure on government funding also continues, leaving us with a £90 million shortfall of funds available that we would have had in 2010.

“There is an over provision of golf locally and St Helens borough is better serviced than other neighbouring councils across the country.

“So the key issue is the sustainability of the service going into the future and this needs careful consideration, although previously it failed to attract even a single expression of interest.

“Names have been rumoured recently such as American Golf and North West Golf but there has been no approach to this council.

“The council cannot afford to invest having heard the budget situation.

“We haven’t raised prices to be competitive, which we are in the market, just not on a financial basis and we are losing money.

“Sadly, this is austerity and we can’t afford to subsidise things that aren’t making profit anymore, which is terrible but it is what it is. We are being forced out down this route.

“This is the time for those people with those sustainable valid ideas to come forward that’s why we haven’t gone straight to a decision.

“We as a council will back you all the way but it’s a budget pressure the council is under that we need to resolve in the face of austerity.”

Many walked out after the discussion which was brought forward in the agenda by councillors due to public interest.

David Stafford, a committee member at St Helens Golf Club, added: “I do not agree with the fact that none of us could put our thoughts forward.

“We understood we couldn’t speak so we put together a leaflet for councillors but these were collected up so I’m doubtful anyone saw them, which is just not fair.

“The government cuts are the main reason behind what they are doing and we understand that but we feel like the criteria that the council are using to show a loss at Sherdley Park is not right.

“We would like a full diagnosis of what the actual course is run on as the council think they are going to save money by closing the course but the only way they can do that is to sell it off for houses

“There are plenty brown areas in St Helens which can be used for that instead of the park which is a use for the community as sport for all and a health service.

“The council are not looking at the full story and if there are savings to be made we may be able to help.

“We are more aware of what is required, to put the course on a financial footing to success rather than a loss.

“The council have had six years to look at this but we’ve not and have been told of grants and all kinds we were receiving, which fell through”

“Other clubs, which are private rather than municipal, have extortionate membership fees of thousands for a year in comparison to our £70 annual fee.

“That needs to be considered as people from all over the country come to St Helens to play there and if it closes it would be a detriment to the council and the town of St Helens.

“It’s a loss no one is considering.”

Sherdley Park golf course, includes 18-holes and a driving range.