At Monday (25 April ’22) evening’s meeting of the Planning Committee of the Town Council a decision was made to reverse the previous Objection to the Poulton Mill Equine Clinic application and approve it instead.
How? Why? This latest application was for a change of use, from ‘Agricultural’ to ‘Equine Clinic’ so, as a technicality the application had to be reconsidered.
Whilst the actual Application form (featured on the Wiltshire Council website – dated 28 April 2021) hasn’t changed, and there have been several amendments to the detail within the proposal, against a backdrop of more than 100 ‘comments’, from local residents, groups and organisations, most of which are clearly opposed to the proposals and registering their objection, the Town Council went ahead with their change of decision.
Click to view this application PL/2021/04663
This application has had a bit of a ‘yo yo’ history in relation to the Town Council Planning Committee. In July last year, they approved it wholeheartedly. Then, once some of the assumed support particularly from two environmental organisations – Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and ARK (Action for River Kennet) came under question – ARK were only made aware of the proposal on the morning that it was presented to the Council – the decision was reversed.
Since then all has been relatively quiet, or so it would seem. But this latest change of use technicality created an opportunity for the Town Council to reconsider, and they decided to approve. The minutes for Monday’s meeting state:
RESOLVED: that Marlborough Town Council has no objection to this application subject to the Officer’s satisfaction that heritage assets, the landscape and environment, and the historic setting will be protected as described in comments already raised by other consultees.
The Council’s previous statement (dated 17 August 2021), which appears on the Application details on the Wiltshire council website, in the Planning area:
At the Planning Committee Meeting of Marlborough Town Council held 16 August 2021, Minute No. 157/21 it was RESOLVED: that Marlborough Town Council objects to this application on the grounds of lack of information about environmental protection and potential adverse impact on nature conservation.
Marlborough.news asked for confirmation from the Town Council regarding whether this was just an approval of the change of use, or whether it meant that the overall application itself was now approved by the Town Council. The Town Clerk, Richard Spencer-Williams responded that it was a complete approval: “The latest decision supersedes as the latest decision is based on the latest application.”
However, many of the 117 (as of this morning) ‘consultees’ have registered objections to the application and can all be viewed on the Wiltshire Council Planning website, but the absolute decision whether to approve or reject the application does not lie with the Town Council. As with all other consultees, they are just that – a consultee. The Town Council do not make absolute decisions whether to approve or reject any Planning Application. Certainly their opinion and decision will be taken into account by the Wiltshire Council (East) Planning Committee, but that ultimate decision to approve or otherwise lies with that Wiltshire Council committee, which will make a decision based largely on the recommendation of the Planning Officer concerned. They will also take into account the strength of public opinion (including Marlborough Town Council), but any such decision will be made on Planning considerations, and Planning considerations only.
Having canvassed opinion from many individuals aware and interested in this application, whilst there is great support for it per se, it will be good for the area and is a welcome addition, the overwhelming response from most is – ‘right idea, wrong place’.
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