A couple in Newcastle has been left unable to use their back garden for fear that their young children will be seriously injured or even killed by flying golf balls from the nearby Westerhope Golf Club.
Residents’ Concerns Over Golf Balls
Rebecca Dixon, 29, and her husband Alex, 32, purchased a new build property from Bellway in Callerton, Newcastle. They moved into their two-bedroom semi-detached house, which cost £134,000 in August 2023. The couple, who are parents to four-year-old Lily and 12-week-old Alfie, claim they were unaware of their home’s proximity to the golf club until they moved in.
Rebecca expressed her concerns, stating, “The golf balls were coming over from day one. We’ve had numerous golf balls in our garden. I nearly got hit, and my next-door neighbour has had golf balls in her garden as well.” She added, “I can’t let my children play in the garden. I have to take them to a play park instead. I have a degree in childhood studies and I’m passionate about outdoor learning. It’s frustrating that I can’t provide that for my kids in our own garden.”
Bellway’s Response and Local Authorities Involvement
Bellway has installed a 12-meter-high netting behind the homes to protect residents from golf balls. However, the netting has proven insufficient as golf balls continue to fly over into the gardens. Bellway stated they will organize an inspection from a specialist firm to ensure the netting works as designed.
Rebecca said, “We’ve been going around in circles because no one is taking responsibility. We’ve complained to Bellway and Newcastle City Council but nobody has taken action. Something needs to be done because it’s not safe!”
Rebecca’s husband, Alex, a professional golfer, has also raised complaints but feels he isn’t being taken seriously. Neighbor Lynn Stott, 65, who purchased the house next to Rebecca and Alex for £200,000, shared similar frustrations. She emphasized, “I have got grandkids and I can’t use my garden. I paid nearly £4,000 to have my garden done and I can’t sit in it. I’m absolutely raging.”
While Bellway claims to have given all relevant information about the properties’ locations to their customers and installed the netting as per planning conditions, Newcastle City Council took enforcement action to ensure the netting was set up after it was found that Bellway sold homes without it in place.
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