Pressure mounting on Carnarvon Arms to remove wall and lights

A retrospective planning application to build walls to form a patio area to the front of the Grade II-listed hotel in Whitway was recently withdrawn, and the matter was discussed by parish councillors at a recent meeting in Burghclere.
Chairman, Chris Saint said: “It’s a listed building and we thought it was appalling,” adding that several villagers had objected to the lamp-posts.
The planning officer overseeing the case at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Jon Willetts, said that formal enforcement proceedings, likely to take up to two months, had commenced in order to remove the wall, if necessary, but meanwhile negotiations were taking place with the agent for the Carnarvon Arms, Taylor & Co Architects and Designers, Droitwich.
Mr Willetts said that an archway and the lamp-posts had proved particular sticking points regarding the application, with two objections lodged against it.
“There are a number of issues with local residents regarding bright lights,” he said, adding that any structure built within the setting of a listed building required planning permission.
However, he said that it was hoped a compromise could be reached.
“Hopefully we can negotiate and resolve a solution for the hotel.
“If we get an appropriate application, we might reconsider.
"If we can’t, then we will have to take formal proceedings of enforcement.”
He also pointed out that highways issues regarding the wall were still being considered.
The general manager of the Carnarvon Arms, David Cumberlidge, said that he thought the issue had been resolved and the wall was to remain at the property.
“As far as I am aware, it will be kept,” he said.
The withdrawn application stated that no existing materials, or architectural details of the property had been damaged in building the 850mm high, rendered and painted dwarf wall, designed to enlarge the hotel’s existing outside seating area.
Taylor & Co Architects and Designers refused to comment on the matter when approached by Newburytoday’s sister publication, the Newbury Weekly News.
Relaunched by chef and restaurateur Marco Pierre White as part of his Wheeler of St James group in February, the Carnarvon Arms was built in the 1800s as a coaching inn.