GAIL’s Bakery to take over the former Lloyds Bank

GAIL’s Bakery will soon be arriving in Marlborough High Street, taking over the premises at 125 High Street vacated last year by Lloyds, the last of the High Street Bank branches in Marlborough. So finally another baker arrives in Marlborough.

Three separate Planning Applications have been submitted for different aspects of the transition of 125 High Street from Lloyds Bank to GAIL’s Bakery. The applications cover the change of use on the first floor (PL/2025/04733), with it being converted into self contained accommodation from ancillary accommodation, and the access changes that would be necessary. Another is for the patterned glass on the front of the building to be changed to clear glazing (PL/2025/05114), and the final application of the three (so far) relates to signage (PL/2025/05251).

A question relates to the signage application which includes the installation of a planter. Where? it would appear that it will be sited between the two pillars – where the white downpipes are. The planter will be signed as ‘GAIL’s’, but will that mean any change to the wooden benches at the Bus Stop, benches that are used by those waiting for a bus and have been there for decades (generations?).

The Planning Committee of the Town Council discussed all applications at the most recent meeting (14 July) and raised no objection to the change of use or glazing applications, but as they were unable to determine from the drawings whether the proposed planter is to be sited on the public part of the pavement (street side of the wooden pillars) or on private land in the curtilage of the building (between the line of pillars and wall of the building) they objected to this element of the application.

The sign – due to hang above the door attracted no objections.

These applications didn’t cover any changes to other aspects but a separate Building Control Application (BR/2025/16662) has been submitted for GAIL’s to ‘fit out the existing premises’.

Also, in most other locations for GAIL’s there is external seating. Will this happen here, and if so what then happens to the Bus Stop area? It would appear that Wiltshire Highways control the pavement area, the strip outside the line of pillars and the kerb, but not on the inside which is under cover. This wasn’t ever an issue when this was Lloyds Bank. Watch this space….