Sirs,
I am writing to alert Marlborough residents via your website of the change to planning proposals that were agreed at a meeting held at the Rugby Club on July 20, 2011.
The Rugby Club made a planning application some months ago to extend the clubhouse and associated parking area in order to improve the facilities offered to those using the club. This application was rejected and a new revised application submitted recently which reaffirmed the stated need for extending the car parking to accommodate those using the club facilities.
The new plans included tree screening to lower the visual impact on what is after all Common land.
However, at the meeting referred to above, the whole reason for extending the car parking was radically changed with no public consultation. The new plans designate 34 out of the 40 proposed parking spaces to be used for members of the general public, who would purchase season tickets at £491.40 per annum.
The income generated would amount to £16,694 per annum which would be split between the Rugby Club and the Marlborough Town Council.
Changes to the plans would include the addition of a height restricting barrier to prevent admission to the car park by lorries and the removal of the proposed screening.
This change of plans represents a move from free parking to enable users of the club to park safely without congesting local narrow roads to one of straightforward commercial use. Were the new proposed changes to be adopted, the problems with parking for users of the club would remain unresolved — an issue which the first 2 planning application allegedly set out to resolve – and the proposed new public car park, without sympathetic screening, would provide a permanent visual intrusion to the detriment of the local area which lies within the North Wessex Downs area of national beauty.
The formal planning application has not been amended in the light of the new proposed changes and I would urge residents to draw this to the attention of the planning authorities. Comments may be sent to Peter Horton, Development Control East, Wiltshire Council, Browfort, Devizes SN10 2AT.
Details of the application can be found at the following addresses:
Click to view the Rugby Club Application E/11/0790/FUL
Thank you for any assistance you can give. The closing date for comments about the Rugby Club application is on Friday August 12.
Max Brockman-More
Chairman,
St John’s Close Resident’s Association