Residents of a new build estate are swiftly learning they don’t have the best of neighbours.
One couple admit they’re now too scared to spend any time in their own back garden, fearing their kids could be killed.
But rather than being plagued by criminals and anti-social behaviour on the estate, the cause for concern is actually the local golf club, reports Chronicle Live.
Rebecca Dixon, 29, and her husband Alex, 32, bought a new build property from Bellway in Callerton, Newcastle. They purchased the two-bedroom semi-detached house for £134,000 in November 2022 and moved in August 2023.
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The parents of Lily, four, and Alfie, 12 weeks, claim they were not informed by the housebuilder about the proximity of their home to Westerhope Golf Club. As a result, they are now unable to utilise their back garden as golf balls frequently land there at high speed.
Rebecca said: “The golf balls were coming over from day dot. We have had numerous golf balls in my garden. I have nearly been hit by a golf ball and my next door neighbour has had golf balls in her garden.”
“I have got a four-year-old daughter and a 12-week-old boy. If they got hit by a golf ball they would get killed. It’s not just a broken leg, they are going to get seriously hurt. We can’t use our garden – I have to go out to a play park.”
Rebecca, who works in customer support, added: “We were told that we would be far enough away from the golf course but that we would still have the view of the golf course. We got told there would be no properties behind us and we would have a nice private garden.”
“We never saw the property until the day we exchanged the keys and by that time it was too late.”
Lyn Stott, 65, moved into the two-bedroom semi-detached property next door to Rebecca and Alex for £200,000, last year.
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Lyn, who works as a responder, said: “I have had three golf balls in my garden since the netting has gone up. I was ironing the other day I had my patio doors open. I heard this massive bang and a golf ball hit my wall. If it had been a foot further along it would have come through and hit me! “.
“I have got grandkids and I can’t use my garden. It’s stopping me from having my grandkids. I have just paid nearly £4,000 to have my garden done and I can’t sit in it. I’m absolutely raging.”
A spokesperson for Bellway responded: “Bellway has not received any previous complaints related to golf balls landing in homeowner’s gardens or the location of properties in relation to the golf course. The 12-meter-high golf netting was a key requirement of our planning conditions, as it is designed to prevent balls from putting homeowners at risk, and it has been installed by a company who specialises in installing netting of this type.”
“Due to poor weather and issues with the supply and installation of the netting, it was installed after residents moved into the properties but has now been fully completed earlier in the summer. However, considering the issues being highlighted to us, we are organising an inspection from the specialist firm to ensure the netting is working as designed.”
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“As part of our regulated sales procedures, customers are given detailed information of a plot’s location and any information relevant to the sale such as being adjacent to a golf course. This is clearly highlighted in site plans and other key information provided to our customers at the point of reservation. In addition, during the conveyancing process, solicitors would provide any relevant information to customers about their property, its location and any other relevant information.”
“Prior to legal completion, customers are also given the opportunity to visit their new home to undertake home demonstrations, and again, in this instance, no complaints have been received in relation to the location of the homes at the time of those visits or subsequently.”
A representative for Newcastle City Council stated: “A planning condition requiring Bellway to prevent golf balls from hitting properties was put in place before any homes were sold. This required the installation of a net which was not in place before homes became occupied. The council took enforcement action against Bellway and the net has now been installed. We are unable to comment on what information Bellway gave to residents about this matter.”