Care Home Proposal Rejected, Golf Club Faces Closure

0:00It's March 26, I'm Cory with the story, this is Lester News today, driven by AI. A proposal for 72-bed-care home on land owned by the Lester Shire Golf Club has been rejected by Lester City Council. The site sits on Protected Green Wedge Land between Evington and Odeby, and Council is voted against it last Wednesday, March 25 despite. The club's desperate financial situation, the Golf Club has been struggling with inflation and low reserves, forcing them to borrow from members, raise fees and cut staff just to stay open. They wanted to sell off about 1% of their land along Gartry Road and Staten Drive to a care developer, hoping the cash was secure the rest of the course. Club President Astrid Mystery called the decision totally disappointing, saying they've tried everything with no options left. Local councillor Ginny Joann knew back the plan, stressing the urgent need for more care beds and warning the club could close without it. On the other side, some councillors worried about setting a bad precedent for future bills

1:02on green spaces. The project promised up to 100 full-time jobs and 3 million pounds added to the local economy each year. Plus savings for social care, services. Developers say it would have eased hospital bed blocking and been ready by 2028, but now it's delayed possibly two more years as. Demand grows. With the rejection in line with council recommendations, attention now turns to fundraising ideas to save the historic golf club and balance care. Needs against protecting those green areas.