A POPULAR hotel will be shutting its doors later this year, putting dozens of people out of work.

Staff at the South Marston Hotel and Leisure Club have been told it will close at the end of October

The hotel’s management have sent a letter to all members telling them until then business will carry on as normal and bookings will be honoured.

All 43 employees at the hotel, which ceased trading under the Mecure brand in February, will lose their jobs when it shuts.

The future of the hotel has been up in the air since December, when the owners, having conceded the hotel was no longer a viable business, asked to knock the building down to put up 72 homes.

More than 130 residents, many of who regularly use the facilities, have objected to the move, saying the village would lose a popular sporting facility.

However, even though no decision has been made on the planning application, the hotel will still close.

No-one was able to comment on the decision but in the document submitted with the planning application, the owners said it was not possible to keep operating with the losses being incurred.

It said: “The hotel has expanded considerably over the years, to provide extra guest accommodation, conference facilities, and a health and leisure complex together with associated parking.

“However, it has faced increasingly tough competition from other hotels serving the Swindon catchment and has been operating at a loss for a number of years.

“Whilst it is understood that the health and fitness and other ancillary facilities available at the hotel are used by some local residents, such use is not in itself enough to sustain operations or cover the costs of maintaining the hotel site in the long term.

“Accordingly the hotel is no longer viable.”

The hotel is home to a number of sports clubs and there has been an outcry from users, many of whom travel to use the facilities.

Local resident Des Fitzpatrick said: “The controversial planning application, submitted just before Christmas, triggered over 150 comments on the council web site, the overwhelming majority being objections.

“Clearly the application could not be approved without a whole series of questions being answered.”

Among those to object to the application is Helen Browning of Bishopstone. She said: “If the club closes, those who benefit from the health and sporting facilities will need to travel to the centre of town, which not only exacerbates travel conditions but is likely to serve as a barrier to many.”

Details of the plans can be found by visiting the council’s planning website and searching for application number S/OUT/15/1985.