Express & Star

Battle over Swindon Marina looms for residents

Residents are gearing up for a showdown meeting with planning bosses as they campaign against controversial plans to extend a marina in South Staffordshire.

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Developers have appealed against the decision to reject plans to increase the size of Swindon Marina. The proposals were thrown out by council chiefs in June amid concerns over parking and said the larger boating hub would be too big for Swindon. But now an appeal has been made against the decision to the Planning Inspectorate in Bristol.

Locals have vowed to fight the plans and they have now got Swindon Parish Council on board. Members of the council and residents will appear at a meeting over the plans in February at South Staffordshire District Council's headquarters in Codsall.

Original proposals for a 252-boat marina were submitted in 2009. Plans for the complex prompted objections from more than 200 residents.

Revised plans were submitted for 226 narrowboats, before it was scaled down even further to 199 boats. Those were approved in December 2010. The latest plan was to increase it to 236 boats was unanimously refused by the council's planning committee in June.

As well as the marina, an office, farm shop, tea rooms, gift shop, viewing gallery area and a car park on around 22 acres would be created. The scheme wouldcreate around 10 new jobs, according to applicants Timothy and Joanna Munday.

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