Marlborough.news can today, Saturday 1 April deliver the exclusive news that there is an as-yet-secret proposal for Wiltshire Council to move out of the Trowbridge Headquarters complex – popularly known as County Hall – and establish a new and radically different, environmentally friendly and highly cost-efficient operational centre in Marlborough. On The Common.
The last decade has been extremely tough for Wiltshire Council. Austerity has ripped many services bare and the recent escalation in energy costs has struck right in to the core of the Council’s operational heart.
So what is planned? County Hall, or most of it to either be sold to a developer and turned into an energy efficient space for business and residential, or to be let out. Whichever option is selected the annual expenditure saving to the Council will be very significant. And the Council can show that it is acting as well as talking ‘Green’. The new ‘radical’ plan will cost a fraction of that spent at present. Staff (and Councillors) will partly work from home, but when required, at times of main Council sessions, can come together into this new and environmentally friendly ‘Eco Space’ in Marlborough.
The ‘Eco Space’ won’t be classed as a ‘permanent’ structure and therefore won’t incur any problems with The Common as its status is as a ‘free’ space with no buildings. The Common is technically ‘owned’ by the Town Council but held in trust for the ‘commoners’ – i.e. us. And as Wiltshire Council is there for us, representing us and acting on our behalf – a perfect ‘marriage’.
It will be – in some respects – similar to the Millennium Dome (to be nicknamed the ‘Marlborough Dome’?) with a form of fabric covering over a supportive framed structure, which itself would be moveable. The artist’s impression above shows how it will likely appear, with ‘Wiltshire Council’ writ large in an illuminated sign at the top which will light up when in session.
To enhance the environmental qualities power will be from renewable. There will be a high output (moveable) wind turbine adjacent. So rather than use solar as the energy provider (Marlborough tends to be quite a cloudy area) wind has been selected as the most reliable and effective source for energy. Lots of it on The Common, a notably windy place so a windmill is to be installed to generate power for lighting (including illuminated sign), heating, PA system and that all important kettle for teas…. But, rather than rely on the presence of much (external) wind at times when the centre is being used – probably plenty of wind and hot air will be generated inside – there will be nifty solution for energy storage – a bank of redundant Tesla batteries, stored in an adjacent container.
How? Why? Marlborough is a ‘Tesla Town’. There are probably more Teslas per 100 cars in Marlborough than anywhere in the world, even in a Tesla factory car park. And many were bought by ‘early adopters’ when Tesla wasn’t much more than a big glint in Elon Musk’s eye, and the battery technology in these initial cars wasn’t anywhere near to the current standard so these vehicles will require far earlier battery replacement than those in Teslas being produced now. Even if not good enough for a car, these ‘ex-vehicle’ batteries will still be fine as storage for power for a premises, and it is calculated that the batteries from only a small number of Tesla cars will be quite sufficient to ensure a consistent power supply.
So how will this ‘project’ work? Will the council be able to conduct all normal operational business? We have been informed, by a well-placed ‘whistleblower’ that the plans are quite advanced. They have all been subject to rigorous scrutiny and role play (‘war gaming’) and those in command of this project believe that it will pay the required dividends of significant cost reduction, far greater eco responsibility in terms of renewable energy use and lower costs, and will enable efficiency in Council operational management. No-one from Wiltshire Council has as yet denied the existence of these plans, but neither have they acknowledged their progress.
All main Council sessions will use the new Eco Space on The Common. Smaller meetings can be held in Marlborough, the Town Hall has plenty of space – meeting rooms and major larger areas where staff and committees can get together. Much improved efficiency also for Marlborough and the Town Council estate.
Staff and Councillors will make greater and more effective use of technology. In the same way that Wiltshire Police, also under enormous pressure from the austerity programme of a while back have cut down on the use of desks and offices. Officers don’t now have to ‘come into their local Police Station’ to fill in forms and write reports, they now do this remotely, either when out on the road or from home by means of Smartphones, laptops and VPNs (Virtual Private Networks). Security and efficiency in action.
What does The Common and Marlborough offer to Council Officials and elected representatives? A wonderful environment right at the ‘front door’ (awning?). A round of golf at lunchtime? A game of tennis at the adjacent Marlborough Tennis club when not playing golf? A bit of Rugby training for exercise – Marlborough Rugby is right there? Practicing flying model aircraft? Better than their normal ‘flying a kite’ and The Common is a popular location for such activity. And then, of course, a visit to Marlborough proper. To the High Street, for shopping, lunch or coffee. To the Cinema in The Parade to catch a film in the most comfortable and ambient environment possible.
There’s plenty to do in Marlborough, and one downside might be that the Town becomes far too popular as a destination for all Council staff, officers and Councillors. Rated as ‘One of the best Places to Live‘ in a recent ‘Times’ survey. Will they ever want to go anywhere else? Will they want to go home?
Whilst the new Eco Space may, in some respects resemble a circus tent, Council officials have been very keen to dismiss many of the disparagingly ‘humorous’ remarks already surrounding this new radical project. Those representatives sitting in this new Council Chamber must not be called ‘Clowncillors’ – this will be a serious disciplinary offence. The Chair of the Council will not be allowed to wear top hat and/or tails, and will have to be addressed in the correct manner, not as ‘Ring Master’. Whilst many Councillors are already adept at wordy jousting, they must not be called ‘verbal acrobats’.
Apparently there is one possible offence that may be committed – ‘Debating with-in-tent’. But hang around for too long after a council session has drawn to a close and this offence may turn into ‘Loitering within tent’. However, any incidence of attempted and disallowed hilarity will invoke stern disciplinary measures, enacted by a new role in the Council, the ‘Dominatrix’.
But Why Marlborough? Why uproot from Trowbridge and decamp to Marlborough? Marlborough is unique in terms of historical heritage within Wiltshire, and – with the possible exception of Salisbury – it has roots back to the thirteenth Century and probably before, and is one of the very few locations in England where Parliament has sat other than in London. It was the centre for King John, and for Henry III, and even some of the laws passed in 1267 – the ‘Statutes of Marlborough’ – made law in the time of Henry III – are still in force today. And these are the oldest pieces of legislation still in use. So Marlborough does command legislative and establishment heritage and standing. And soon, when the Boundary Commission’s new proposals are (likely) enacted, Marlborough will be the main town for the new constituency of ‘East Wiltshire’ (or ‘Marlborough & Pewsey Vale’?), thus reflecting the town’s true standing position in this part of the UK.
One concern has been voiced: this relates to transport and access. Wiltshire’s roads are already in such a shocking state and are deteriorating rapidly. Jokes abound about ‘car-eating-potholes’, but in reality there are many reports of damage to cars – tyres, wheels, suspension – due to the inadvertent hitting of one or more of these hazards. A question presents itself – will a driver still be able to get from Trowbridge to Marlborough, in any vehicle (other than a Challenger Tank) and remain in one piece through having to negotiate their way around the myriad of potholes that have emerged on just about every road? And by the time of this project becoming reality, how many more?
So at the core of this proposal is money. Funding. Lack of. Austerity. And Wiltshire Council being able to deploy what it has, as efficiently as possible and in the right areas. This highly confidential and unacknowledged proposal is but just one measure being developed under the banner marked ‘efficiency’, with the goal of making every penny of Council resource and income work harder. So not wasting our money whilst ensuring the greatest effect from available resource. And Marlborough should benefit.