22 Dec 2023
Earlier this year, the eyes of the golfing world were firmly focused on St Albans as it hosted two prestigious international tournaments.
The Centurion Club, on the Hemel Hempstead Road, welcomed the Aramco Team Series for the third year running, having hosted the LIV Golf League for the second year some weeks earlier.
Taking place across three continents, the Aramco Team Series tournaments see the world’s best players team up with amateur golfers to compete for $1m prize funds. Other venues are in Florida, Singapore, Hong Kong and Riyadh, so for an event of this standard to be held in St Albans was a massive coup for The Centurion, which celebrated its 10th anniversary just before the tournament.
The club previously welcomed the GolfSixes Cascais in 2017 and 2018, and has been carving out a reputation for some of golf’s more high-profile competitions.
But now the Centurion is courting controversy following the announcement that it plans to expand by an additional 10 holes – which opponents say will mean the loss of hundreds of trees to create new greens and fairways.
Social media has been abuzz with allegations, including conspiracy theories linking former Mayor Cllr Edgar Hill and St Albans Liberal Democrats with the proposals, while some media reports have overlooked the fundamental reasons behind the scheme.
A spokesperson for the club explained the reason for the expansion: “Ultimately it is to maintain the quality of the course and ensure it remains a world class venue for international tournaments. The addition of the 10 new holes will enhance the facility for its members, neighbours, the community, and the general public, create more jobs and provide additional economic benefits to the district.
“As the custodians of the site we maintain it to a very high level and the trees affected are low grade and were planted to be harvested for commercial purposes.
“For over two years, Centurion Club has worked with environmental consultants to undertake ecological surveys as part of the planning application. The results of these detailed surveys have played a significant role in the resultant layout of the new holes to minimise their environmental impact.
“Lots of substantial changes have already been made as a result of the expert observations and tests carried out by unbiased ecologists, and we are already preparing land for planting new trees as part of our application.”
According to an economic impact report on the LIV Golf London tournament which took place in July, the event saw more than 14,500 visitors from outside the London area, with a total spend by attendees of approximately £4.6m.
But many public comments posted on the SADC planning portal have condemned the plans.
Some come from as far away as Potters Bar, Welwyn Garden City, Cranfield in Bedford, Whitney in West Oxfordshire and even Aberfeldy in Scotland.
Vanessa Wright of Gabriel Square said: “Haven’t we had enough devastation of our precious woodland from the failed HS2 and housing developments? Has anyone noticed that we are in a climate crisis and biodiversity crisis?
“Hasn’t St Albans got enough golf courses with Batchwood, Verulamium, Harpenden and Centurion? And surely 18 holes is enough – why do you need more?
“What’s more, don’t you know how much wildlife currently resides in the woodland you are planning to devastate? No, because a thorough site inspection assessing the rare and precious species has not been conducted.
“But I do know there are red-listed white admiral butterflies there alongside I am sure many other regionally and nationally important species. This plan threatens to cut down 1,800 trees. Do you know that one oak tree can be home to up to 300 species? Think of how much rich biodiversity would be eradicated if you go ahead. Please stop this plan and save our woodland our precious wildlife and our planet.”
Freda Chaloner, chair of St Albans Civic Society, said: “We object to this proposal which entails the felling of a very large number of trees including the larch woodland and part of the beech plantation. Destruction of so many mature trees will have a negative impact on the environment and the offer to replace these with immature specimens is not enough to mitigate the harm. ”The small benefit to a limited number of people in no way mitigates the environmental damage proposed.”
Simon Osborn from Waverley Road, added: “There are no two ways about it, this will result in the destruction of a wood valuable for wildlife and there is no justification for this destruction of valuable Green Belt habitat.
“More progressive councils than St Albans e.g. Brighton are actually closing golf courses and turning them over to nature, providing much better biodiversity and public access. The unwelcome LIV golf money is distorting this trend.
“This proposal is effectively damaging a St Albans habitat for the benefit of very wealthy golfers.”
Jonathan Emmerson of Margaret Avenue, said: “Native woodlands are so important for biodiversity, supporting many different species of fungi, lichens, mosses and plants, as well as birds, invertebrates and other animals. Once lost these complex ecosystems cannot simply be replaced.
“The UK has one of the lowest biodiversity in Europe and our native woodlands more than ever need to be protected from this or any kind of development.
“The woods also provide mental and physical health benefits to local walkers and nature lovers alike.
“Cutting down the woodlands will release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases at a time when we need to doing all we can to fight climate change.”
Juliet Voisey from St Albans Greens said: “The Centurion Club’s planning application is to extend their golf course to accommodate a further 10 holes on the Potter’s Crouch plantation woods.
“This site is home to at least 1,000 mature trees and other plants, including a bluebell wood. Many creatures live there, from insects to birds to deer. There are established footpaths and these woods are used all the time by the public and have been for decades.
“There are many species of birds that breed on the site, some uncommon.
“There are also many butterflies, particularly the white admiral that is protected under Section 41 and regarded by Natural England as ’of principal importance for the purposes of conserving biodiversity’. In fact, this is one of the top two sites in the district for this butterfly and it has been established here for at least 10 years.
“We have a duty to conserve this habitat and increase the biodiversity there. Whilst they may plan to plant a few trees – this is no compensation for wiping out the natural
habitats and ecosystem that have been established in Potter’s Crouch for decades. We must stop treating nature as a disposable asset; our very existence depends on it.”
But not all the comments have been negative.
Steve Cook from Cunningham Hill Road said: “I think this a well thought planned application and just as the existing golf course has enhanced the area then this will as well.”
Ben Ramsay of Antonine Gate said: “Centurion is a world class golf club. As a local resident I would be happy to see it expand to further investment to the local area.”
And Debbie Tankard of Everlasting Lane said: “It is good that the Centurion Club is doing well enough to want to extend the course but they have not thought of the effects on endangered species which can be found on the site such as the white admiral butterfly.
“Could they work with reputable wild life conservators to develop a plan which would work for golfers and wildlife alike?”
Comments are still invited on St Albans’ planning website by December 30 ref 5/2023/2112.
Meanwhile, one councillor has found himself in the spotlight over the proposals.
Cllr Edgar Hill, who represents Verulam ward and was Mayor of St Albans between 2021-2022, has been accused of using his position as vice chair of SADC planning committee to somehow promote the scheme, even though he actually called it in for scrutiny.
Cllr Hill told the St Albans Times: “I am disappointed and saddened by some of the comments brought to my attention on social media and I take these attacks on my integrity very seriously.
“I have done nothing but act with total propriety throughout, which is why as one of the councillors on the ward in which this application falls, I have joined with my colleagues to call-in the proposal to the planning committee.
“In the event it is approved by planning officers, this will ensure it is scrutinised by a cross section of councillors. Whilst I have no conflict of interest at all, I have recused myself from this potential review because I am aware that it is important to not just avoid conflicts of interest, but also the perception of a conflict.”
Because of the rumours surrounding the scheme, Cllr Hill also posted the following comment on the planning portal: “As one might expect this application has attracted considerable interest and conjecture. There have been suggestions that I personally have connections with the applicant and the company I work for have a financial interest in the development. I can categorically state this is not true. I am not a member of Centurion Golf Club and how the selling of life insurance could be in anyway associated with this development requires quite a stretch of the imagination.
“Nevertheless in the interest of complete transparency and as I am currently on the planning committee, I will be declaring a pecuniary interest. If the application does come to the table, I will not be taking part in its deliberation.”
Centurion Club’s full statement on expansion proposals
In a detailed statement released following the initial reports about the plans, the club said: “During the last 24 months we have worked closely and collaboratively with consultants GWP, Forbes Laird Arboricultural, together with Aspect Ecology and Aspect Landscape, to undertake ecological surveys as part of our planning application for additional golf holes.
“The results of these detailed surveys, which are all publicly available within the SADC planning application portal, have played a significant role in the resultant layout of the new holes. Whilst some tree felling is necessary to form greens, fairways and tees, by altering and adapting the layout in consultation with the Hertfordshire county ecologist, we have been able to considerably limit tree felling and avoid intruding on areas of ecological sensitivity.
“The reports highlight that no veteran trees or Grade A trees are to be removed and that only 8% of grade B trees are due for removal and 17% of grade C trees principally from a commercial Larch woodland. (Grade B being moderate quality trees and grade C being low quality trees).
“Since its inception not only has Centurion Club provided a world class golfing facility for the local area but it has planted over 20,000 trees and shrubs and our current plans include a further 26,000 indigenous trees and plants, comprising approximately 11,200 woodland and shrub mix planting, 140 large trees, 14,740 plants on the new woodland area plus marginal planting around the lake edges.
“Aspect Ecology have advised that the proposals present the opportunity to secure a significant net gain for biodiversity in habitat terms, through restoration of the existing woodland by removal of the larch plantation and replanting with native broadleaf.
“Areas of existing beech plantation within the woodland will be retained and enhanced with new planting; fairways will be sensitively inserted within the woodland with the ecological design aim for these to function as enlarged woodland rides and glades, which are features of very high functional value for woodland wildlife.”
“Through the implementation of appropriate avoidance, mitigation and compensation measures we will ensure no significant harm to biodiversity arises, the net gain assessment demonstrates a significant gain in habitat will be achieved on the site, meaning that flora and fauna will thrive.
“We encourage people to review fully the reports, surveys and planning documents which are available through the planning portal.”
