A Medway golf club closed today after 11th hour talks to keep it open collapsed.

A debate was held at a meeting of Medway Council's cabinet on Wednesday about the future of the Deangate Ridge Golf Club in Hoo.

It comes as the council was told to reconsider its decision to close the venue at an earlier overview and scrutiny committee meeting.

Council officers have defended the plan to close the facility, which has made a loss of more than £1.5m over the last seven years and has a membership of fewer than 300 people.

After three petitions attracted a total of nearly 4,000 signatures – mainly focusing on a perceived lack of consultation – the majority of committee members agreed to refer the decision back to cabinet.

Deangate’s demise was “called-in” by members of the Medway Labour group, which wanted the matter to be referred to full council rather than the cabinet.

The group has raised questions about how quickly the decision was reached, and accused officers and cabinet members of predetermining the facility’s proposed closure.

A document on Medway Council’s website detailing responses to the Medway Local Plan states: “Medway Council as landowner supports the promotion of the land at Deangate Ridge Golf Course and Sports Complex Hoo, for inclusion within the Medway Local Plan as a housing allocation.”

But the council insists no decision has been made about the potential use of the site, adding the other facilities at the sport complex will remain open.