ONE of Marlborough's biggest eyesores has competition in the shape of a new building which has most of its windows bricked up, councillors claim.

The three-storey block of six flats built for Kennet Housing Society in New Road in Marlborough competes in ugliness with the dilapidated former Dobson's Garage opposite, say town councillors.

Coun Richard Allen told Monday's meeting of the recreation and amenities committee that he was appalled by the finished appearance of the new and as yet unoccupied flats.

Most of the windows facing east have been bricked up, leaving just two

traditionally glazed windows.

The building stands at the heavily used approach to the town centre and greets visitors as they enter the conservation area.

Coun Allen asked fellow committee members: "Did the original plans approved by the council allow for concreted-up windows?

"It really does put people off coming into the town. I cannot believe that plans were passed showing it with concrete windows."

But this week Kennet told the Gazette that the building had been constructed entirely in accordance with the original plans.

And Jane McClusky from Marlborough Housing Society said that real windows could not be put in the wall because it was on the boundary and the neighbours could build up to it in future.

Ms McClusky said the housing association had wanted to leave the wall blank but Kennet District Council insisted on the bricked-up apertures.

"We wanted to leave the wall just brick but the planners said we had to put in the windows and they had to be rendered," she told the Gazette.

Coun Caroline Jackson asked Monday's committee if anything could be done to improve the run-down appearance of the former Dobson's Garage.

The showroom is being used

temporarily as a carpet store for Dible & Roy but the forecourt is littered with weeds.

Coun Jackson said: "While taking part in the procession on Remembrance Sunday we were looking at Dobson's Garage.

"It looked so incredibly ugly as we were marching past it down the road."

She asked if the council could get up a working party of volunteers to remove the weeds and tidy up the forecourt.

Coun Hilary Cripps, committee chairman, said: "I would be very happy if we could do it but only if we would not get into trouble."

Town clerk Graham Gittins advised councillors that it was private land and as councillors they should not become involved.

He reminded councillors that they had already asked Kennet District Council to serve a notice on the garage tenants, London-based BNN, requiring the garage to be tidied up.

But Kennet had refused because officers did not think the state of the former garage was sufficiently bad.

Coun Cripps suggested writing to BNN and to Dible & Roy to ask if they would agree to a volunteers tidying the forecourt.

Councillors also expressed concern at the state of buildings adjacent to Dean's Garage in London Road.

Some buildings have not been used regularly for a number of years and one has a boarded-up window. The council has already written to Mr Dean but had no response.

Councillors agreed to ask Kennet to serve a tidy-up notice.