Contaminated golf course bid made

A grant application for £3.2m has been submitted by Halton Borough Council to help deal with the contamination of a golf course in Widnes.

More than £188,000 has already been spent by the Cheshire council on investigating the extent of the problem at St Michael's golf course.

The surface soil and a stream which crosses the course are contaminated.

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) will announce its decision on the application next month.

If approved work will start in the spring and finish in autumn 2010.

The course has been closed for the past three years.