WYRE Forest District Council has taken possession of a derelict Kidderminster golf club that has been subjected to repeated arson attacks since it closed last year.

Authority chiefs stepped in after administrators failed to find a new tenant for Wyre Forest Golf Club, in Zortech Avenue, to replace previous tenant Burlish Golf Centres Ltd, which went bust in February 2017.

After prolonged discussions between the council and Cheltenham-based Hazelwoods LLP had failed to offer any certainty regarding a prospective future tenant the council took action of its own and applied to the court for forfeiture of the lease, which was granted unopposed in May.

The court ordered that the council would be entitled to possession from Monday (June 18). The authority hinted the site could be used for housing and included in its draft Local Plan currently being considered.

Since it closed, the site has been subject to arson attacks and illegal incursions from travellers causing concern for residents.

Crews battled a blaze in one of the golf club buildings on May 12 while two fires in two months in September and October prompted warnings from the council, urging people to stay away.

Councillor Ian Hardiman, Wyre Forest District Council Cabinet Member for Planning & Economic Regeneration, said: “The council has maintained a dialogue with Hazelwoods since Burlish Golf Centres Ltd went into administration in an attempt to find a suitable tenant that the lease could be assigned to, but as time went on no firm proposals came forward.

“The council was very aware of mounting issues of anti-social behaviour at the site and unauthorised occupation of the site.

“It felt that pursuing forfeiture of the lease was the most effective means by which it could assume full control of the site.

“I’m pleased that the council is now back in control and whilst we have no firm plans for the future of the site we will be using the Local Plan review process to consider options going forward.

“In the meantime we ask that anyone crossing the site sticks to the designated public rights of way and contacts the council if any unauthorised use of the site, such as by motorcycles, is spotted.”