Anger over Birmingham golf course closure plans

Hundreds of residents were told a municipal golf course on their doorstep would close within months following an angry meeting with Birmingham's leisure boss.

Councillor Martin Mullaney came under fire as it emerged that the loss-making Hill Top course in Handsworth was set to shut down in March.

Birmingham City Council wants to turn it into meadowland for ramblers and dog walkers, with the longer term aim of developing a state-of-the-art cycling centre.

More than 300 residents and golfers crammed into St John Wall School, Oxhill Road, Handsworth, to have their say, but many blasted the gathering as a "sham of consultation".

MP Khalid Mahmood (Lab, Perry Barr) said: "I don't know why Coun Mullaney bothered coming as it certainly wasn't to listen to people.

"There were golfers who wanted to set up a co-operative to run the course, but they would need to see the books. Others questioned how it could be losing £239,000 a year.

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