A popular golf course on the Somerset coast could get a new watery addition under plans to reduce its dependence on the local water supply.

Burnham & Berrow Golf Club lies on the north Somerset coast, sandwiched between the town of Burnham-on-Sea, the neighbouring village of Berrow and the popular Berrow Beach.

Nestled among its 18 holes, the course currently includes an irrigation lake, which was constructed in 2009 to irrigate the fairways.

The club has now applied to Somerset Council to build a second lake immediately to the north – with a decision being expected early in the new year.

The new lake will be able to hold up to 22,500 cubic metres of water, further reducing the club’s dependence on Wessex Water’s existing infrastructure and ensuring there is sufficient water for the growing demands of the nearby residents.

A spokesman for Ashfield Solutions Ltd. (representing the club) said: “The objective of the new development is to capture and enhance the sustainable use of infiltrated rainwater for irrigation purposes at the golf club, limiting impact on the local Wessex Water network during the peak requirement
summer months and preventing unnecessary water disposal during winter months, where capacity is currently not available.

“This will enhance both sustainable use of natural infiltrated rainfall and limit stress, in the summer months particularly, on the local water network and potential for impact to both local residential and commercial properties.”

The new lake will be accessed from Coast Road, with the club putting in clear pedestrian diversions to prevent disruption to players, residents and those attending services as the nearby St. Mary’s Church.

The spokesman added: “Separation of the construction activities from neighbours, pedestrians and churchgoers is the key to safety of the works on the occupied site.

“The contractor will ensure that all deliveries are directed through the construction access point.

“Pedestrian routes will be maintained to minimise disruption to the surrounding areas particularly during the early stages of the works.”

The council is expected to make a decision on the plans shortly after Christmas.

Due to the scale of the application, a decision may need to be taken by its planning committee north (which handles major applications in the former Sedgemoor area), rather than being handed by the planning officers’ delegated powers.