A PROPOSAL for more retirement apartments in Marlborough gave councillors food for thought at their planning committee meeting on Monday.

Developer Renaissance Retirement wants to covert the former builders yard in London Road into a complex consisting of 28 apartments with 24 parking spaces.

Issues were raised at meeting of Marlborough town councillors about the increasing number of flats for over 55s in the town being built and lack of affordable apartments for first time buyers. But Coun Marian Hannaford-Dobson said they were in danger of sounding ageist if they recommend Wiltshire Council reject the proposal on that basis.

Coun Mervyn Hall also pointed out that the over 55s population in the area makes up 33 per cent of the total population of around 8,300 people.

He said: “I think the issue of affordable housing for young people needs to be addressed not by objecting to these applications that come through, because as councillor Barrett-Morton said we’ve a very weak case for objection.

“What we need to be doing is opening up a dialogue with Aster and finding out what their intentions are in terms of buying or building social housing in the town and I think that’s something this council should now start to do.”

Coun Justin Cook added: “Or indeed should we as a council be looking at the land we own and building some social housing ourselves?”

Concerns were also raised about how the new retirement homes would impact Marlborough’s GP surgery, the Marlborough Medical Practice in George Lane.

Coun Guy Loosemore said: “The pressure on the town and the medical services is growing and we haven’t yet seen the impact of the developments coming through in terms of the Citroen garage and the one on Salisbury Road and again has any consultation been made with the local GP services?

“I find it very hard at the moment we have a GP service that’s stretched to the limits what impact is this going to have on top of everything else going on?”

The committee could not come up with any substantial reasons to recommend the plans be rejected. Five councillors voted no objection, three voted against the proposal and two abstained. Wiltshire Council will reject or approve the plans later in the year.