It has been announced in Trowbridge that the final decision on the application by the Marlborough Arts Association to close roads in the town and divert all through traffic on the Saturday of the Jazz Festival (July 18) is to be made the Wiltshire Council cabinet member responsible for highways and transport.
Councillor Philip Whitehead has said he will accept any further representations on this application that are sent to him by June 30.
The announcement states that normally such decisions would be left to the local Divisional Member as the ‘sole arbiter’. However because there are ‘unresolved objections’ to the application and “…in view of the involvement of the local member [Councillor Fogg] with this application, it is considered appropriate that the Cabinet Member makes the final decision.”
Councillor Whitehead says that the decision needs to be taken in the light of the ‘unresolved objections to the proposed closure’. He continues:
“Considerable weight should be attached to the views of the Town Council. It has resolved to support the road closure [by 8 votes to 2] having considered representations from supporters and objectors, alongside the wider benefits that the event brings to its town.”
“The Town Council’s proviso that there should be a post event meeting to resolve outstanding issues prior to next year’s festival is an undertaking that Wiltshire Council should support.”
Councillor Whitehead’s email address is: Philip.Whitehead@wiltshire.gov.uk
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