A private company could take over the management of Knowsley's municipal golf course as the council can no longer afford to run it.
The Bowring Park course in Roby currently loses Knowsley Council more than £100,000 a year.
The local authority has said this situation "cannot continue" as it would force the council to choose between keeping the golf course open and continuing to fund essential services like social care.
The course, which the council took over in October 2018 following the liquidation of the previous management company Mack Trading, has proved a drain on resources.
In 2019/20, the local authority is expecting to subsidise the course to the tune of £118,000.
A council document advertising for a private company to step in and run both the course and the wider park said: “This situation cannot continue as it will start to damage the council’s ability to provide other public services to Knowsley i.e. statutory social care to vulnerable children and adults.
“Hence, the council must look at all of the available options to sustain the golf course in a more affordable way.
"The alternative would be to cut the funding for key council services (e.g. social care services) in order to keep the golf course open, which is unacceptable."
The council is now looking for a private company or social enterprise to act as a “managing agent” for the whole of Bowring Park, investing in further restoration and maintenance work while also operating the park “for commercial return”.
So far £3.7 million has already been invested in renovating the once-neglected park, but the council now says it "does not have any further financial resources to invest in the Park nor the specialist expertise and experience that is needed to make it the success it should be”.
In documents inviting companies to tender for the role, the council says the managing agent will be entitled to “revenue from the payment of fees by the users of the services to be provided at Bowring Park.”
While seeking a return on its investment, the managing agent will be required to maintain the park and continue improvement works, use the park to “inspire community action” and improve the park’s “leisure and hospitality offer”.
John Flaherty, Knowsley Council’s executive director for communities and neighbourhoods said: “We know how much our parks and open spaces matter to our communities and Bowring Park is a fantastic asset with the potential to attract visitors from across the City Region and beyond, whilst delivering real benefits for all parts of the local community.
“We are seeking a like-minded, co-operative partner who possesses the commercial acumen, investment potential and pro-social/ environmental credentials we need to significantly move this project forward.
“This is a unique and exciting opportunity for us to strengthen the team working on securing the future of Bowring Park. We envisage that the opportunity to get involved in a project like this will be incredibly appealing and we would hope to be able to secure a skilled and experienced team to support us.”
The council expected to announce the winning bid in July.
