Campaign for bike park and padel courts at former Wakefield golf course
A campaign has been launched to convert a former council-run golf course into a bike park and padel courts complex.
Nearly 600 residents have so far signed a petition in favour of the proposals for Spring Mill, in Ossett.
The nine-hole course and clubhouse shut down almost a decade ago after Wakefield Council axed the facility due to financial pressures.
The push to revaitlise the site has been spearheaded by local resident Andy Shires and backed by Tony Homewood, a former councillor for the area.
Mr Shires, a fitness coach, said: ” It has such great potential and could be a real community hub again.
“Not just for kids but for adults and families too.
“It will give young people on bikes somewhere to go that doesn’t cost anything and keep them out of mischief.
“The padel courts are sure to be a huge success. Padel is already the fastest growing game in the world.”
The campaign calls on the council to commit to providing a £400,000 community grant to help fund the facility.
Proposals include building a bike park to accommodate a range of abilities, from beginner to expert.
The campaign also calls for the refurbishment and reopening of the old clubhouse and the construction of four covered padel courts
It is also hoped the revamped site could be become a Parkrun venue.
The campaign website states: “We believe that this is important because there are no council provided outdoor sports facilities on the west side of the district and this contributes to rising levels of anti-social behaviour and poor physical health, leading to potential issues in later life.”
Mr Homewood said he planned to stand as an independent councillor for the area in May’s local elections and would make the issue the central part of his campaign.
He said: “I kind of thought I had retired but Andy called me when the council announced plans to put allotments on the site.
“We had been working on the bike park when I was an Ossett councillor.
“When I stood down the council soon booted it into the long grass.”
Mr Homewood previously represented the area as a Conservative councillor from 2021 to 2024 and served as the opposition leader on the local authority.
He then resigned from the Conservative Party and continued to sit as an independent but did not seek re-election in 2024.
Mr Homewood added: “This is not my idea, it was Andy’s but I now realise that it isn’t going to fly without someone at the town hall continually making a noise and pushing it.
“I think it’s a really fantastic idea and it will be a jewel in Ossett’s crown.”
A public meeting has been arranged at NewSpring Church, Illingworth Street, at 7.15pm on Friday (March 20) for residents to discuss the proposals.