Cheltenham Civic Society supports Promenade marquee removal

Cheltenham Civic Society has lobbied to have the marquees removed

Cheltenham's Civic Society says it "fully supports" council enforcement action against a row of marquees outside a town-centre venue.

The group, which campaigns to conserve the architecture and history of the town, has described the marquees, on the Promenade, as "tatty tents".

An appeal has been launched against an order to take them down.

They were installed while planning enforcement against moveable structures was relaxed during the pandemic.

"We don't think that anything has significantly changed since the planning inspector rejected 131's tents," chairman Andrew Booton said.

"So we fully support the council on this. The tents obscure the view of three of Cheltenham's finest Grade II*

Plans to keep the marquees, which replaced parasols outside 131 and 133 The Promenade in October 2020, were rejected in November last year.

Julia Dunkerton's Lucky Onion Group has since launched an appeal.

After the Covid-19 pandemic structure relaxation rules ended, initial proposals to keep the structures for a further two years were rejected by Cheltenham Borough Council in November 2022.

'Impact on buildings'

This decision was upheld by a planning inspector in the summer.

New plans were later submitted to keep them but reduce their height by about two metres.

These proposals were also turned down due to the impact it would have on the five Grade II* listed Regency buildings located prominently in the conservation area.

Chris Gomm, head of development management, enforcement and compliance at the Borough Council confirmed that an appeal is ongoing.

Lucky Onion Group has not yet responded to a request for comment.