THE planning chairman of Marlborough Town Council, Marion Hannaford, has voted against her own committee at the district council.

On Thursday, Coun Hannaford, a town and district councillor, told Kennet regulatory committee that neighbours were perfectly happy with plans for a two-storey extension at 57 Five Stiles Road, in Marlborough.

She is chairman of the town council planning committee, but was absent when it voted to object to the plans.

The town planning committee said the proposed extension did not conform to existing building guidelines and would result in reduced privacy and light for neighbours.

But Coun Hannaford told Thursday's meeting of the regulatory committee that the applicants had consulted neighbours at all stages of the plans and there was no objection from them. She said: "This is a case of a young family who want to improve their living standards."

Planning officers had recommended that the application was passed and councillors gave their unanimous support.