9:23am Wednesday 11th November 2009
By Lawrence Dunhill
A PENSIONER whose sheep died after being hit by a golf ball says a proposed 10-metre fence would not stop wayward tee shots landing in her garden.
Jane Blaik, who lives next to Whiteleaf Golf Club, near Princes Risborough, had to put down one of her sheep in August after it was struck by a golf ball and didn't recover.
She says the club should rearrange its course so balls are not hit towards her property.
The golf club submitted plans to replace a smaller fence on the edge of the property but these were thrown out by Wycombe District Council on Wednesday - because of the visual impact it would have on the area "of outstanding natural beauty".
Keen gardener Mrs Blaik said: "The first thing I knew (about the sheep) was she was lying down flat out with a golf ball lying next to her head. We got her up and she didn't know what day of the week it was.
“We took her to the vet but had to have her put down.”
“It's got quite dangerous in the last few years. Golfers have these 'Big Bertha' iron clubs now which hit the ball much harder than the old ones.”
Her Grade II listed cottage, Middle Cadsden, on Cadsden Road, is next to the first and seventh fairways, and she said many balls have hit her home or flown into her garden.
She fears her grandchildren could be hit when playing in the garden.
She said: “I'm always aware of it because the course is on three sides of me and you don't get any warning - you can't relax in the garden.
“We've always had them plopping in the garden but not with the force and frequency they do now.”
There had been an old seven-metre fence around two sides of her property for around 40 years which the club replaced in 2006.
A retrospective application was submitted to WDC in 2008 but this was rejected by councillors and the club came back with a revised plan this year.
Mrs Blaik said: “This abominable fence has been here for two years - I just think they could do something different like rearrange the holes on the course.”
Whiteleaf club captain Jonathan Brooke said he was disappointed with the decision made by the planning committee and stressed that officers at the council had recommended the plan be approved.
He said: “With all due respect to Mrs Blaik and her sheep the issue is a red herring. The fence is purely to protect the Grade II property and it's a totally unrelated incident.
“We thought we'd put up a very good case and the planning officers at the council have recommended it be approved twice in a row now. Some sort of protection to her property is essential.”
He said he thought the sheep was already unfit and the club would consider lodging an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate.
In a letter to WDC he said that “very tight space restraints” meant reconfiguration of the course was not feasible.
Simon Muchan, an environmental health officer at the council, has suggested the club consider changing the playing order of the course, digging bunkers or planting a line of trees to discourage players from hitting towards Mrs Blaik’s property.
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