A bid for Angus Council to reconsider a decision involving a golf centre extension at Carnoustie Links was withdrawn before a special meeting.
Carnoustie councillor Bill Bowles withdrew the motion after the council’s head of law and admin Sheona Hunter told councillors that landlord’s consent had already been issued.
Mr Bowles had sought to reopen the debate about whether the council should grant consent to Carnoustie Golf Links Management Committee (CGLMC) taking out a £3m loan to assist with the golf centre project.
However Mrs Hunter told councillors who had gathered at Town and County Hall in Forfar: “I can confirm that consent has been issued and acknowledged by Carnoustie Golf Links Management Committee.
“It’s not capable of being retracted in any way. It’s now a legally binding agreement.”
This would have been Mr Bowles’s second attempt at a council vote to reconsidering granting consent.
A special meeting last week saw councillors tied at 13-all after they voted on the issue. Mr Bowles required a two-thirds majority for his motion to be successful.
After yesterday’s meeting he said: “The fight goes on. Building work hasn’t started yet. The decision is wrong. It’s never been debated. It’s been forced through.
“The administration of Angus Council were fearful that they were going to be defeated on this and have done everything in their power to prevent the democratic process taking place.
“I’ll reiterate what I said before – that democracy in Angus Council is broken.”
An online petition asking the Carnoustie Golf Links Management Committee to stop the project was started earlier this week and has so far attracted 300 signatures.
“The public feeling is that this is wrong for Carnoustie, wrong for Angus and wrong for the charity they propose to represent,” Mr Bowles added.
Carnoustie Links belongs to Angus Council but the management of the Links is carried out by CGLMC.
Under the terms of their agreement, the local authority is required to give consent if CGLMC seek to borrow more than £200,000.
At last month’s meeting CGLMC chair Pat Sawers said the golf centre extension was “much needed” to retain Carnoustie’s status with the R&A, which organises The Open.
She said: “The R&A have an expectation that all Championship venues continue to build on and improve what they offer.
“As we are currently behind all the other venues, Carnoustie can not afford to stand still.”
However many pubs and restaurants in Carnoustie are against the new bar and restaurant, stating it would have a detrimental impact on their business.
