Manton’s Oddfellows Arms takes a step nearer becoming a ‘Community Asset’

At last night’s meeting of Marlborough Town Council Planning Committee (Monday 24 July) Councillors gave their wholehearted support to a proposal by the Manton Residents Association for The Oddfellows Arms to be registered as an ‘Asset of Community Value’.

Whilst the declaration of support by the Council does not ensure success in this nomination, their support will be a positive contribution towards the decision being taken by Wiltshire Council at a meeting on 29 August.

So what is an ‘Asset of Community Value’? Why is this so important for Manton? Any premises registered as such is afforded a degree of protection, were a sale by the owners wanted. The freeholders of the pub (Wadworths) would not be able to sell the pub to a developer, immediately, were they to make such a decision. It effectively creates what could be a six month gap in that sale process were the Council to receive a request from a community interest group to be treated as a potential bidder (in the first six weeks).

Many other village pubs, not registered as ‘Community Assets’ have gone the way of non-pub development. The ‘Three Horsehoes’ in Burbage or the ‘Cross Keys’ in Great Bedwyn being two examples, and even closer to here, the ‘Queen’s Head’ in Marlborough’s St Martins was another.

Pubs are viewed as being central to the identity of a village, occupying a position at the heart of the village community. It has long been held that any such village community is centred on three things: a pub, a school and a shop. Manton – as does West Kennet Valley neighbour Lockeridge – qualifies on two counts, but on the third, there is a shop at the nearby petrol station in Fyfield.

As much as anything this proposal is about stating the importance of the pub to the village, and the Residents Association underline this recognition in their nomination of the Oddfellows describing it as being ‘the village’s community hub and provides an informal meeting place for local groups organising village events and activities.’

But Manton, surely it’s part of Marlborough? So not a separate village? Technically Manton falls within Marlborough’s town boundary, but it is a separate built-up community, there is clear green space between Marlborough and Manton, and it even hosts it’s own (annual) music festival – MantonFest – and how many other villages, anywhere, can match that?