Marlborough
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Users to be consulted on Marlborough Common
EVERYONE who uses Marlborough Common from dog walkers to golfers is to be consulted about the way it is used and maintained.
On Monday the Town Council agreed to set up a users group representing all the people who use The Common in a variety of ways.
Councillors also agreed to leave shaggy strips of un-mown grass for wildlife especially the birds.
The council had received observations from several people that the larks that were once prevalent on the common were in decline.
Yet a few hundred yards further along the Rockley road by the gallops the song birds were prevalent, encouraged by areas of longer grass where they nest.
Coun Bryan Castle, chairman of the open spaces committee, said a number of people had mentioned to him the need to leave rough areas of grassland for the birds to nest.
The move to form a common users group was precipitated by the controversial proposal by Marlborough Golf Club to create a practice range on the common with Perspex bunkers providing all-weather facilities.
The golf club wants to take over a one and half acre area of the common for the practice range in return for making available a similar area beside the Swindon road for the Tennis Club, currently homeless.
Gazette reader Anne Johnson from Prospect Place in Marlborough has written to say: "I am appalled at the preposterous idea of concrete and plastic structures being erected on Marlborough Common for the golf club.
"Common land is for the use of the whole town and ours is used all day and every day.
"The original common has been hugely eroded by the existing golf course, rugby pitches and the ever-expanding model aeroplane site."
Mrs Johnson added: "Perspex shelters there are as totally unacceptable as tarmacing it over to make a car park or selling it off for housing."
Coun Nick Fogg told Monday's council meeting that he would like to see a survey of all the users of the common and he support the idea of setting up a users group.
He suggested St John's School students could be asked to carry out the survey.
Coun Edwina Fogg said: "I don't think we have taken proper soundings of what people think of the golf club's proposal."
Coun Mrs Fogg said she had heard that a petition was being gathered to oppose the practice range idea.
"I think if we go into this hastily we could find a backlash," she said.
Coun Anthony Sycamore said: "We do need public support for this.
"Personally I have grave reservations about it," he said.
Coun Sycamore said he was concerned that one minute the council had been discussing the idea and the next it had talked of opening formal legal and financial discussions with the golf club.
Councillors agreed that in no circumstances would the golf club or any other user be allowed to fence-off any areas, even if they wanted to for public safety.
It was also agreed to ask the golf club to show proof of insurance covering members of the public in the event a golf ball struck them.
Any one who would like to serve on the users group should contact the Town Clerk, Pam Dobson, at the town council offices, 5 High Street.
2:00pm Wednesday 30th April 2008
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CommentPosted by: who dat? on 7:57pm Wed 30 Apr 08
"Councillors also agreed to leave shaggy strips of un-mown grass for wildlife especially the birds."
Arrh - them Marlborough birds luvs they shaggy strips up on the Common!!Nothin' like a bit in the long grass !!!!
"Councillors also agreed to leave shaggy strips of un-mown grass for wildlife especially the birds."
Arrh - them Marlborough birds luvs they shaggy strips up on the Common!!Nothin' like a bit in the long grass !!!!
Posted by: Merlin, Marlborough on 11:43am Thu 1 May 08
About time too! Its disgraceful how the conuncil have given favourable treatment to the golf club on this issue without consulting the prople of Marlborough
About time too! Its disgraceful how the conuncil have given favourable treatment to the golf club on this issue without consulting the prople of Marlborough
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