Netting set to be put up stop golf balls raining down on infant children

Plans for netting to prevent golf balls from a driving range raining down on infant school children in Altrincham have been submitted. Trafford council has submitted the application to its own planning authority to install a ball stop net and post system 3.6 metres high to the driving range at Altrincham Municipal Golf Course.

St Vincent’s Roman Catholic Primary School, west of the site, separate by Timperly Brook. The Old Hall pub - a Grade II-listed building - is north-east of the course.

Documents on Trafford’s planning portal say: “The proposals seek to install the netting on the existing driving range in order to prevent golf balls from leaving the driving range site and landing in the infant playground of St Vincent’s. Golf balls have been found in this playground, which has generated health and safety concerns regarding the risk of balls hitting young children who play there.”

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They say the design of the system has been chosen to minimise the net’s visual impact from the site’s surroundings, including when viewed from The Old Hall. The pub was first listed in 1978, built nest to the now-demolished Timperley ‘Old’ Hall, a medieval moated manor house.

The new hall was built in the 1700s and became the clubhouse for Timperley Golf Club from 1876 until 1934 when the hall and the surrounding estate - now the golf course - were bought by the council.