A COUNCILLOR has called on the city council to take action to help to reopen a golf course that’s been closed for five months. 

Stony Holme Golf Club and Swifts Driving Range were closed after their operators Mack Golf ceased trading and entered into voluntary administration in October.

The facilities are owned by Carlisle City Council, but were run by Mack Golf on behalf of the authority. 

Mack Golf cited “unavoidable” financial circumstances, but these have yet to be explained. 

A petition was set up by club captain Mark Thompson, calling on the council to take action. 

To date the petition has more than 800 signatures. 

On the Change.org site, the petition says: “We need Carlisle City Council to re-open the course and clubhouse as soon as possible and give us back our home.”

At a meeting of the city council at the Civic Centre this week, councillor for Botcherby, Robert Betton, asked: “Is the council going to open this golf course?” 

It follows on from a motion submitted by the Independent councillor in October, which called on the city council to reopen the courses with “immediate effect”.

At the meeting on Tuesday he eluded to the funds spent by the authority on maintaining the club since October, including a figure of £10,000 to maintain the building. 

Councillor John Mallinson, who is the leader of the Conservative group of councillors, said: “I appreciate it is not an easy one and I don’t think the portfolio holder will be able to answer when it will reopen. I ask when will there be more information?”

The leader of the council Colin Glover responded: “We said we would do everything in our power to reopen Stony Holme golf course and we still want it to open as soon as possible. 

“We has used a lot of money at the course, but we have done that so we can reopen as early as possible.”

To view the petition, go to www.change.org/p/carlisle-city-council-let-s-re-open-stonyholme-golf-course-and-clubhouse.