NEIGHBOURS have complained about a noisy golf course near Wokingham that now wants to sell alcohol late at night.

Wokingham Family Golf, on Finchampstead Road, plans to build a single storey extension to its driving range, for a bar and toilets.

The golf course also wants to stay open later. It’s currently allowed to stay open until 9pm Monday to Friday and 7pm on weekends and bank holidays.

READ MORE: ONS map shows coronavirus deaths in the area

But now the owners are asking to stay open until 11.30pm Monday to Saturday, and 10.30pm on Sundays and bank holidays. They’re also asking permission to use the outdoors terrace until 10pm every day of the week from April to September.

The course has been granted the premises licence from Wokingham Borough Council to trade this late, but also needs planning permission, too. This is because planners previously granted permission on the condition that the course doesn’t stay open too late.

Wokingham Family Golf has a nine-hole course, pitch and putt course, mini golf course, driving range and a club house. It used to be an 18-hole course called Woodcray Manor Golf Club.

READ MORE: Twins born in summer can start school later after admissions blunder

Councillors on the planning committee at Wokingham Borough Council will consider the plans at a public meeting on May 21, and vote on whether to approve permission.

Neighbours told the council they were concerned about the extra noise and light pollution from the golf course, if it were allowed to stay open later. They were also concerned about overdevelopment of land in the countryside.

Clarissa Flynn, who lives nearby, said: “With a late night licence, patrons will stay late into the evening with car doors slamming, traffic headlights, not to mention all the loud activities associated with such venus: shouting, laughing, loud conversations, et cetera.

“This has no place in a countryside location that is supposed to be quiet and dark at night.

“Leaving aside the nuisance caused to nearby residents, there will also be an impact on the wildlife that inhabits this site. Bats, in particular, are likely to be disrupted by such late noise and light pollution and bats are relatively common in this area.”

Other neighbours however supported the plans, and were fans of the golf course.

Amit Lakhani said: “Wokingham Family Golf is a great place. I have known it from a field to what it is now. I support the application on the basis that it will be a super social place, bringing communities together. Also, it will create employment.”

Similarly, Steven Bland said: “Could not agree more with this application, what a success this little gem has become.”