SCALED down plans to develop a golf course have been submitted. Barkway Park Golf Club is proposing to redevelop its practice area and turn it into a golf academy. As revealed in The Crow in November, the original plans involved 200 lorry trips a day to a

SCALED down plans to develop a golf course have been submitted.

Barkway Park Golf Club is proposing to redevelop its practice area and turn it into a golf academy.

As revealed in The Crow in November, the original plans involved 200 lorry trips a day to and from the site for a two-year period, to help bring in the "inert material" needed to reshape the area.

This scheme was withdrawn after by Hertfordshire County Council planning officers raised concerns about the route the lorries would take to access the course.

The new plans involve a reduction in the amount of material taken to the site - down to 100,000 cubic metres from 130,000 - meaning the number of lorry trips per day is halved to 100.

Adjustments have also been made to the route the lorries would take.

However, Cllr Tony Hunter, county councillor for North Herts Rural, still has concerns about the scheme.

He said: "The route has changed, but it still involves a lot of lorry movements on a very narrow, unsuitable, B road.

"There are buildings in the area which date back to the 1890's, that could be permanently damaged, and you have to look at the impact it will have on the quality of life of local residents over two years," he added.

Owner of Barkway Park Golf Club, Geoff Canon told The Crow last year that local people are unlikely to see a large increase in traffic if the development goes ahead.

He said: "A lot of lorries already use the road going to and from the quarry at Anstey."

The application is currently awaiting consultations, and is expected to go before the County Council's planning committee at their meeting on September 22.