At last Monday (14 June) evening’s meeting of the Planning Committee of the Town Council Councillors objected to application PL/2021/04315, relating to the ‘erection of a detached residential property on land at the junction between Cross Lane and Back Lane’ in Marlborough.
Their objection was based on ‘overdevelopment’ and concerns were raised about the creation of a wide entrance very close to the Cross Lane / Back Lane junction.
Apparently there were numerous objections to the proposed development, and Committee Chairman Cllr Nick Fogg did comment “that there has been some correspondence on this” and Town Clerk, Richard Spencer-Williams confirmed that there had been no letters of support had been received.
Resident of Cross Lane, Vera Hamlin voiced her concerns to the Committee explaining that the proposed entrance in Cross Lane would be a ‘big deterrent’ to pedestrians, and that the building itself will be serviced from that entrance, making people venturing top and down Cross Lane at risk. She added that if this large three bedroom house were allowed to take up most of the existing garden she would immediately lose privacy, some of which has already gone as the trees sited between her bungalow and the garden edge had already been cut down. And the proposed house and upper floor of its accompanying two story garage would have a clear view directly into her back kitchen and sitting room. She added that more trees would have to be taken down to accommodate the scaffolding required to construct the house.
She asked the Committee to ‘please consider’ what she had said.
The Committee listened to statements from neighbours Marian and Stewart Dobson who claimed ‘overdevelopment’ of the large property going into a limited space.
Cllr Richard Allen noted that ‘Right to light’ was a valid planning criterion and that this application would take away light from the neighbour’s bungalow.
The Committee objected to the application on the grounds of overdevelopment of the site, poor vehicle access and a lack of a tree survey, also making reference to the violation of Core Policies 51 and 57. This was voted by majority, all present voting to support the objection with three abstentions by the Wiltshire Councillors present who also sit on the relevant Wiltshire Council Planning Committee.
Bryan Castle, longtime Town Councillor and former Mayor
