Plans by Marlborough Rugby Club to extend its clubhouse on The Common and create extra parking have upset residents because it will take up public open space.

On Monday, several residents of nearby St Luke’s Court attended a Marlborough Town Council planning committee meeting hoping to voice their fears.

But committee vice chairman Marian Hannaford Dobson, who led the meeting, ruled it would be unfair to let them speak because no-one from the rugby club was present to respond.

Residents from St Luke’s retirement apartments and St John’s Close have written letters of objection to Wiltshire Council planners, who will ultimately decide on the application.

Brian and Valerie Thorne, from St Luke’s Court, wrote: “The existing clubhouse changing facilities seem to be sufficient for the usage that is currently taking place and from observation most younger participants arrive in their strip and return home likewise.”

Mr and Mrs Thorne said the original approval for the rugby clubhouse had been “a reluctantly accepted intrusion” into the Common and said the latest application “seems to be an attempt to further erode the accessibility to what is a diminishing resource for all to enjoy”.

On Monday, town councillors, who as trustees of the Common are the rugby club’s landlords, agreed to support the club’s application.

Mayor Alexander Kirk Wilson said of the objections: “I think their fears are largely misplaced and this is nowhere near the threat to their community that they imagine.”

Gary Sharp, rugby club chairman said: "We are delighted our plans to develop the rugby club have found approval by the Marlborough town council.

“This is a major step forward in the club's aspiration to develop the facilities to better support the significant growth of the over 220 strong junior and mini section and successes of the senior section in recent years."