Family's driving ambition

11:57am Sunday 11th May 2008

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A GOLF course could save a farm that has been in a family for 81 years.

Alan Coutts and Sons believe any extra money, generated from a driving range and nine-hole course on their land, will help them to sustain Beeches Farm in Ollerton.

"Our accountants have four similar businesses on their books and they all do well," said farmer Brian Coutts.

But first the family, who hope to rent extra land for their 90 cows so they can create the course, must convince planners at Macclesfield Borough Council.

So far the local authority has received 50 letters of support.

But some neighbours and parish councillors have complained.

Eighteen letters of objection, including one from a planning consultant representing seven residents in Ollerton, have been sent to Macclesfield.

They worry about increased traffic, light pollution and damage to the countryside. They also fear golf balls could hurtle into nearby roads and hit passing cars.

But in an agenda for a planning meeting, Macclesfield said that should not be a problem.

"Whilst it may be the case that a limited number of golfers could drive beyond 300m, on the basis of the information available, it is considered that this is extremely unlikely," a planning officer wrote in the report.

The farm first considered diversifying about two years ago. Brian, his brother Steven and his father Alan were concerned about the increasingly low price they received for milk.

The farm now gets the same price for its produce that it did about 13 years ago.

But costs including petrol, electricity, water, gas and fertilizer have increased.

Mr Coutts said the number of dairy farmers left in the area showed how much farmers were struggling.

"There are only two in Ollerton and Marthall now," he said.

"My dad can remember when there were about 20." The farm submitted a similar planning application last year but Macclesfield Borough Council rejected it amid concerns about golf balls being hit into Hall Lane and Chelford Road.

The position of one hole has since been changed to avoid that problem.

Plans for lights have also been removed.

Mr Coutts said he was confident the application would be approved. "We've ticked all the boxes now," he said.