Liverpool pulls Allerton golf course sale

LIVERPOOL City Council has pulled the sale of one of its golf courses on a 25-year lease over a contractual dispute.

The council was due to handover Allerton Golf Course to Glendale Golf, part of the Preston-based swimming pool and grounds maintenance group Parkwood Holdings.

But it is now looking for another partner after claiming Glendale wanted to make a “significant change” which would have compromised the council’s pledge that the new operator would provide year-round, affordable pay and play golf.

The council is pushing ahead with a similar deal for North Liverpool at Kirkby which will be run by Formby Hall Golf Club – owned by the Hanlon family behind Maghull Developments.

Both transactions were designed to save the council £2m over five years.

Assistant mayor Wendy Simon said: “Regrettably, we have not been able to reach agreement with Glendale Golf over the transfer of Allerton Golf Course.
 
“We have always been clear that we would only transfer the courses if it is in the best interests of golfers and the council.
 
“Glendale Golf asked to make a substantial alteration to the contract which we considered would not be in the best interests of the people who use the course. We would like to wish them well in their future ventures but both parties have agreed it would be wise to end contractual discussions at this stage.
 
“We will now be going back out to the market and are confident that we will find another operator willing to take over the course.
 
“In the meantime, the golfers using Allerton will see no change as the council will continue to run it until an alternative provider is found.” 

Glendale had not commented on the situation at the time of publication.