A CONTAMINATED golf course can now be repaired and swing back into action, thanks to a £2.47 million Government grant.

Specialist equipment will soon remediate St Michael’s municipal course in Dundalk Road, Widnes, closed since 2004 following the discovery of arsenic.

Clr Phil Harris, board member for sport and the environment, said: “This is great news.

“It means that we can have contractors’ machines on the golf course in the next few weeks and make real progress in bringing the land back to use.

“It has taken much longer than we wanted to secure the funding, but thanks to council officers’ efforts, the Environment Agency and MP Derek Twigg, The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has recognised what an important and worthwhile project this is.”

Mr Twigg was instrumental in helping to break the deadlock as Halton Council waited for crucial funding.

He said: “I am delighted because this has been going on for a long time.

“Work can now start.

“I managed to get hold of the Minister over the summer and set up a meeting between the council and Defra.

“The council has done a great job getting this scheme together.

Remediation work will involve resurfacing part of the old course and creating a new channel for Stewards Brook, a watercourse which crosses the 18-hole course.

A new system will be installed to collect polluted water which comes from the old chemical waste which lies beneath the course, a former tip.

Once the new surface is in place, the public will be consulted over the design of the greens, the tees, fairways and a new clubhouse.

Further work and funding will be required to complete the new course, set to re-open in 2013.

The old clubhouse was destroyed in an arson attack.

Clr Harris added: “We always said there would be public consultation over the new course and its design.

“When we get to that stage, we will ask local people for their ideas.”