Marlborough Town Council
Who owns MARLBOROUGH Common?
Marlborough Common was given to the borough by King John (reigned 1196 to 1216) as pasture for livestock. Marlborough Town Council is the custodian of the Common and is responsible for managing its interests. Byelaws enacted since King John’s time have changed some of the rules about what can and can’t take place at the Common.
Who owns the land at Hawthorn Meadow?
GreenSquare Homes currently owns Hawthorn Meadow. Hawthorn Meadow will be handed to the Town Council once Wiltshire Council signs off the development. We are proceeding with the consultation before that happens on the assumption that it will go ahead, so as not to delay our plans to extend Marlborough Cemetery.
What if you do nothing, or the outcome of the vote is ‘no’?
We will continue to offer burials until Marlborough Cemetery is full. If alternative land cannot be found, once the cemetery is closed it will no longer be possible to offer new burial plots within the parish of Marlborough.
What happens if the outcome of the vote is ‘yes’?
We will begin our project to extend Marlborough Cemetery.
I want to vote but can’t make 16 April. Is there an alternative?
Yes. You will be able to vote in person (with photo ID) at the Town Council office 9am-4pm on Monday 13, Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 April. We’re sorry, but there is no postal vote option.
Who is being consulted, and who can vote?
We would like everyone in Marlborough to know about this consultation.
People registered as electors in the parish are able to vote.
We are also consulting interested parties such as North Wessex Downs National Landscape, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, Action for the River Kennet, Marlborough Rugby Football Club, Marlborough Youth Football Club, parkrun, Marlborough Golf Club, Friends of the Victorian Cemetery & Arboretum and the Model Flying Club
What is Common land, and how is it different from public open space?
Public open space can be used by members of the public if the landowner gives permission, and the landowner is entitled to remove that right or add conditions at any time.
Common land is owned, for example by a local council, privately or by the National Trust. You usually have the right to roam on it. This means you can use it for certain activities like walking and climbing. Some common land has different rights and byelaws so it can be used for other activities, for example horse-riding.
You cannot: camp on common land without the owner’s permission; light a fire or have a barbecue; hold a festival or other event without permission or drive across it without permission unless you have the right to access your property.
The management of common land must take into account the interests of both the owner and the ‘commoners’ (people who have rights over the land but do not own it).
Why extend at all? Can’t you reuse the old cemetery for new burials, or plots more than 100 years old in the current cemetery?
Before 1977 grave spaces were sold in perpetuity. It is only since the Local Authorities Cemeteries order 1977 that burial or ashes plots can be purchased for a period no longer than 100 years. This means all grave spaces in the Victorian cemetery were sold in perpetuity.
For the current cemetery which opened in 1924 (excluding children’s graves) 37% plots were sold in perpetuity.
