PLANS to create an 18-hole putting course in Chester have been given the go-ahead.

The golf facility will be based at Westminster Park with the aim of getting more young people involved in the sport.

It will also provide a base for keen golfers to hone their skills.

The synthetic grass putting course will be operated by The Golf Store House and will complement their existing cafe and 'Pitch & Putt' facilities.

The plans have been backed by park owners the Grosvenor Estate along with Greenspace and Friends of Westminster Park.

The site was previously home to a putting course around ten years ago, but the costs of maintaining the facility – and growing grass near tree roots – ultimately led to its closure.

Similar plans to create a new putting course were granted permission in 2013 but that planning consent has since lapsed.

The facility, which will be surrounded by a 1.2m high mesh fence, will be open from 8.30am until dusk, April to October, and 10am-2pm Monday-Friday and 10am-4pm weekends between November and March.

In the planning application put together by Creative Golf Design, it states: "This will provide a fun facility for families to enjoy, but which will also find favour with proficient golfers as an aid to putting practice.

"Given the presence of an existing public Pitch & Putt golf course within the park, it will provide a complementary facility which will encourage the uptake of golf and prepare new golfers to use the Pitch & Putt course.

"The two facilities are therefore seen as being mutually beneficial.

"It is also hoped that some of these new golfers will eventually become members of some of the established golf clubs around Chester that are currently struggling to attract young golfers and maintain their membership levels.

"The Golf Store plan to offer coaching for kids and the putting course would provide an additional teaching facility and key part of the coaching programme."

In recommending approval, Cheshire West and Chester Council case officer Gail Nickson states: "In recommending that planning permission be granted, it is considered that the proposed development would result in an additional small-scale recreational facility that would not significantly adversely affect the allocated wider greenspace area and is considered to enhance the recreational facilities of the existing greenspace."