12:00am Sunday 27th January 2008
A FORMER Newcastle United footballer has unveiled plans for a new golf development in the shadow of Auckland Castle and Binchester Roman Fort.
Allan Barker's company, Castle Golf, is building an 18-hole golf course with a restaurant, clubhouse, health club and fitness suite at the Eleven Arches golf club in Toronto, near Bishop Auckland.
Earlier this month, Wear Valley District Council's development control committee, agreed to relax a condition on 24 terraced homes planned for the scheme.
Councillors decided to allow the holiday homes to be occupied by one person for a maximum of ten months, which has helped secure the funding needed for the project.
Now Mr Barker, who was born in Bishop Auckland and played more than 30 games for The Magpies in the 1970s, can barely wait for work to begin in earnest.
"I always used to think it would be fantastic setting for a golf course, with the river around it and everything, and I made up my mind that if it ever became available, I would try to buy it," he said.
In 2002, Castle Golf took over the old Flatts Farm, and built a driving range a year later.
But the 51-year-old, who also played professionally for Gillingham and Hartlepool United, and in the USA, said that he quickly saw the potential for a larger scale development.
"What we saw when we started to get right into this is it's not just a golf course, and that's where the holiday homes come into it," he said.
"There's an equestrian centre and a walker's route nearby, four fishing lakes on the site and the Roman fort and Auckland Castle on the doorstep.
"It's finally coming together after a lot of hard work, and it's really exciting."
Architect Chris Stanton has drawn up plans and contractors W Marley have been appointed to carry out the work, which will cost more than £2m and create about 20 full-time jobs when completed.
It could take up to three years, although it is hoped that between nine and 15 holes will be open by June.
The 120-acre site is a haven for wildlife, including birds like oyster catchers, red shanks and lapwings, and grass mounds have been built around their nests to ensure that they are unharmed.
Castle Golf director Ray Russell said: "Allan had this vision when it was a run-down farm. It's going to bring outsiders into the area and boost the local economy."
A limited number of memberships for Eleven Arches remain. Call 01388-664333.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk