Marlborough Area Neighbourhood Plan – ‘Made’ – referendum returns a ‘Yes’ vote

So after many years and numerous delays, legal intervention and much planning, consultation and discussion – the Marlborough Area Neighbourhood Plan has been approved by the electorate of Marlborough, Mildenhall and Savernake.

It was a conclusive result. Over 85% of those casting a vote said ‘Yes’. 939 were in favour, 163 against with five papers rejected as being ‘unmarked or void for uncertainty’.

Former Mayor and Chair of the Steering Group, Cllr Mervyn Hall said: “The adoption of the Marlborough Area Neighbourhood Plan is a very important step forward in ensuring that the views of our community are taken into account when decisions are taken on planning applications. The Plan will provide for developments to meet the needs of the community and provide vital protections to our
environment and heritage.
It has taken a long time to produce and I would like to thank the members of the MANP
Steering Group, past and present, for their many hours of work and dedication that has
made this possible.”

For the Town Council this represents a big step forward as there is now a framework against which all planning, environmental and strategic considerations can be addressed. There will be significant weight when planning applications or development proposals are considered by Planning Officers – planning power at the most local level, focusing on the things that are important to those who live and work in the area.

Town Clerk, Richard Spencer Williams told Marlborough.news: “Marlborough Town Councillors are enormously grateful to Mervyn and all Steering Group Members, past and present, for their dedicated hard work on behalf of the community. I took over the role of Secretary to the group when Shelley Parker, the former Town Clerk, moved on from Marlborough in 2021, and we owe Shelley a special mention too.”