Contrary to the understanding of those at Monday’s meeting, the Office of The Police & Crime Commissioner have just issued a statement stating that the Commissioner does not have the decision to make as contracts with McCarthy & Stone have already been exchanged. The decision is now down to the planners at Wiltshire Council. The OPCC statement is below:
A spokesperson for the Wiltshire Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner said: “Contracts have been exchanged with McCarthy & Stone for the sale of the George Lane site in Marlborough. Completion of the disposal is subject to McCarthy & Stone obtaining planning permission for the development it is proposing, in this case it is for retirement living apartments.
“Any development proposals are subject to Wiltshire Council’s planning process, where residents can comment or raise objections. We encourage anyone with concerns to engage directly through the formal planning channels now the application is submitted. The Police and Crime Commissioner does not have a role in the determination of planning decisions.”
A packed meeting of the Town Council Planning Committee earlier this evening (Monday 19 May) heard resident after resident stating their clear objections to the proposed development – application PL/2025/03165 – by McCarthy & Stone to turn the former Police Station in George Lane into a large three-story retirement apartment complex. An almost unique occasion. A Town Council meeting with standing room only. With cheering and clapping following every voiced statement.
What should happen to this site? The universal opinion is for a development of affordable and/or social housing units. Accommodation that younger families to afford to rent or buy as that is what Marlborough is crying out for, and as Cllr and former Mayor Lisa Farrell made clear there is already talk that in only a few years local schools may have to close because young families can’t afford to live here and pupil numbers would be too low.
No-one spoke with any degree of acceptance, let alone support for this project. The sense of unanimity against this application throughout the Court Room of the Town Hall was unerringly clear. No. And No. And No. Ad infinitum…..
Whilst the committee were totally against there was a concern that even if the ‘East’ Planning Committee of Wiltshire Council were to vote in a similar way to the Town Council at their next meeting. And if the Planners there accept that this was not in the interest of the town for a myriad of strong reasons, if developers McCarthy & Stone then appealed to the Planning Inspectorate it could still go ahead even though the effect on the town in terms of infrastructure, parking, and every other aspect of living here would be significantly adverse. In the interests of whom are planning decisions ultimately made?
However, this all presupposes that McCarthy & Stone will be accepted as buyers for this site. The seller does have a say and the seller is the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner, led by the Commissioner himself, Philip Wilkinson.
Does the elected Commissioner wish to turn a deaf ear to his electorate in Marlborough? Will he follow the wishes of his predecessor Angus Macpherson who, when asked (by Marlborough.news) after the decision to close the station and sell the site was made public, stated that it should go ‘to the community’. What’s proposed now is the opposite so does the Commissioner really want to alienate the electorate of Marlborough?
As the deed appears to be done the original piece is probably now irrelevant and superseded. So probably little to be gained now by contacting Philip Wilkinson – or even inviting him to explain his actions to the Town Council and his electorate in Marlborough – as his decision has been made and subsequent action is now underway. Likewise little to e gained by contacting him to make objections known.
The original story read:
The Town Council Planning Committee voted unanimously to approach the Commissioner and invite him to attend a meeting and explain his – or those of the OPCC – intentions. He would then have the opportunity to set out his plans and considerations for the selling of the site whilst also being able to experience the strength of local opinion against this proposed development. Already on the Wiltshire Council Planning website there are nearly one hundred and fifty submitted objections to this application.
It was suggested by several speakers that those who felt strongly and encouraged the Commissioner to listen to the community and to take the strength of their opinion into account prior to making any decision, they should write directly to him to explain why. To contact Commissioner Philip Wilkinson either by e-mail to: pcc@wiltshire.police.uk or by letter to his office in the Wiltshire Police Headquarters in London Road, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 2DN.
A rare evening in the Town Hall. Normally any Committee meeting may have a small number of attendees from the community, but tonight it was residents out in force. All of a united opinion which was a strong and clear ‘NO’ to this McCarthy & Stone Planning Application.
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