Another threat to Bradford on Avon Golf Course.

12.00.00am GMT Wed 28th Oct 2009

Bradford residents were shocked to learn that Conservative Councillors met in secret to do a deal that paved the way for nearly 200 houses to be built on Bradford on Avon Golf Course.

Liberal Democrat campaigner and would-be MP, Duncan Hames, used the Freedom of Information Act to reveal official documents that show that, in a closed meeting in 2007, Conservative District Councillors agreed to scrap legal protections on the golf course in return for a slice of the profits going to the Council if the land is ever sold to developers.

Duncan said, "a legal covenant was placed on the golf course to keep this local beauty spot safe to be enjoyed by Bradford residents. By secretly agreeing to scrap this safeguard the Conservatives have sold local people down the river."

Local campaigners saw off an earlier threat to the golf course in 2008 with the support of Duncan Hames and the town's Lib Dem councillors. But now a new planning application has been launched, and with the covenant gone, the golf course land is even more at risk. "Local people won't just roll-over for the Council," said Duncan, "so far over 200 local people have written letters of objection to the Council to try to stop this development. I'm calling on everyone who cares about preserving this beauty spot to register their support at: www.keepbradfordgreen.co.uk