TOWN councillors in Marlborough have taken the unusual step of welcoming a planning application.

Normally the town council planning committee states that it either objects to or has no objection to plans.

However, on Monday members threw caution to the wind and said they welcomed plans for the conversion of the former Dobson's Garage showroom in New Road into two shop units.

The application was made by Majestic Wine Warehouses, which has bought the entire garage site and will be opening one of its stores in the former workshops.

When the planning application for the showroom conversion went before town councillors on Tuesday Coun David Parker said: "We should be absolutely delighted with these plans."

The committee agreed that rather than its traditional "no objection" comment to tell Kennet, which makes the final decision, that it "welcomed" the Majestic plans.