The future of two loss-making golf courses in Bath are under the spotlight ahead of a crunch meeting next week.

Bath and North East Somerset Council reached out to "more than five" operators to run the Approach golf course but none submitted a tender – indicating it is not "viable for a traditional golf business", according to cabinet papers.

Only one company has submitted a bid for the site but commercial sensitivity means its identity will not be revealed until the contracts have been awarded.

Since the papers were published, hundreds have signed a petition urging the council to keep the golf course open, with the total currently at more than 1,400.

Writing to councillors, Ben Reed, who created the petition, criticised the lack of consultation and said: "It's very hard to understand why the council now believes it to be appropriate to change the use of such a sensitive, visible and central site without asking residents and users what they actually want.

"I believe the petition demonstrates that you may be about to commit to something that virtually no one wants, which I hope you agree would be a mistake."

The Approach golf course costs the council £30,000 a year. Mr Reed's petition said it is "popular, accessible, inexpensive, low-maintenance, provides excellent exercise and is fun".

The Entry Hill golf course has experienced a continued decline in visitors over more than a decade. It currently costs the council £70,000 a year.

A consultation on its future showed 78 per cent of respondents wanted it to become a mountain bike park.

Golfer Elizabeth Hallam told councillors in July 2020 the consultation had been weighted against golf and targeted by the "cycling lobby on steroids", with many respondents from as far away as Scotland and Guernsey who had never visited the site.

Five bidders submitted bids to take it over. Again their names have not been made public due to commercial sensitivity.

Avon Wildlife Trust and Forest of Imagination prepared a joint bid to reimagine Entry Hill as an "intergenerational sustainable, wildlife-rich, inspiring and playful nature park, enriched by art and providing nature-based learning for all".

Cabinet members will have the option of appointing the highest scoring bidders or choosing not to proceed with the process when they meet on February 11. Once a preferred bidder is appointed they will engage with the local community on their proposals before final contracts are signed.

The cabinet papers say: "The intention, as stated within the tender documentation, is for a concessionaire to be appointed to remove the subsidy requirement and, potentially, offer an income to the council, support more people to be more active, more often and to demonstrate how it will support the council's agenda on climate change.

"The preferred bidder achieves these aims ensuring there are no revenue requirements for the project and an income is provided to the council over the life of the contract.

"This is achieved by transferring maintenance responsibilities for the site from the council to the new provider and from removing the requirement for council subsidy required to deliver the current usage on the site."

Councillor Paul Crossley, cabinet member for community services, said: "We want to see Entry Hill and the Approach become places where our communities can become more active, more often and offer wider provision to support people's health and wellbeing.

"Especially in the wake of the pandemic, it's our responsibility to make sure sport and leisure provision in Bath and North East Somerset meets the needs of residents now and in the future.

"Any new operator for either site needs to create places that make it easier for people to be active and connect communities, as well as support our climate and ecological emergency goals. We will consider these preferred bidders carefully against these criteria when making our decisions."