Agenda item

The Chairman will introduce the representatives attending the meeting, and explain how the meeting will work. Plans of the Market place are attached for ease of reference.

The Chairman explained that the situation had changed since the agenda had been published, and that the Salisbury Vision Board had published a statement indicating that it had transferred responsibility for the Marketplace refurbishment project to the Area Board.  Councillor Jane Scott, Leader of Wiltshire Council, had also given assurance that resources and funding would be made available to the Area Board to take the project forward.

In view of the Area Board’s new role in the process, the Chairman moved that the existing planning applications be withdrawn, to allow for further consultation with the Community and for a revised plan to be put forward.

Decision

The Salisbury Area Board agreed to withdraw the planning applications in relation to the proposals for the Marketplace (ref S/2011/1320, S/2011/1321 and S/2011/1322).

The Chairman also referred to the public survey which the Area Board had published to find out about the views of Salisbury residents in relation to the various elements of the proposals for the Marketplace.  Nearly 1200 responses had been received so far, and the survey would remain open for a further 3 weeks.  Paper copies of the survey were available at the meeting, along with freepost envelopes.  Alternatively, the survey could be completed online at www.goo.gl/AeLEz.  The Chairman encouraged everyone to circulate the survey to all friends and family; it was important to get a high response rate in order to ensure a cross section of the community, and an accurate reflection of the views of those who live, work, or shop in the city.

At the Chairman’s invitation, City Cllr Su Thorpe (Leader of Salisbury City Council) made a statement on behalf of Salisbury City Council (SCC), including the following points:

·         SCC had not formally debated the issues relating to the Salisbury Vision, although it supported the Vision’s mission statement of making Salisbury “a clean, green, safe and friendly city…consistently acknowledged as being one of England’s best places to live.”

·         SCC had inherited the decision of the former Salisbury District Council (SDC) in terms of the selection of the architect and the proposal which included the removal of the trees and moving the war memorial.  This decision had only been made four months prior to Councillors assuming office in SCC and no Councillors, including four of the SDC cabinet members who had made the decision, considered that the decision should be reviewed.  Once the planning application had been submitted, the standard planning consultation process had begun.  As part of this process, the SCC planning committee had considered and supported the proposal, on the proviso that the replacement of trees, the changes to disabled parking, and the moving of the war memorial were all done sensitively.

·         SCC was aware of significant public concern over the adequate provision of disabled parking.  It was noted that New Canal Street could accommodate more disabled parking spaces.

·         SCC considered that it was extremely important to get the Vision projects right (including the Marketplace refurbishment), to create a sustainable future for Salisbury, keeping young talent in the city.  It was also important to take the opportunity for investment in such an important space in the city.

The Chairman thanked Cllr Thorpe for the City Council’s contribution.