SALISBURY Cathedral's masterplan will go before councillors on Thursday at the Southern Area Planning Committee.

The plan involves providing new public access to the south side of the cathedral, opening up views painted by Constable, creating an education centre, a song school for choristers and a home for the archives and Magna Carta.

It also involves providing a welcome centre at 32-33 The Close where the cathedral has recently opened a tea room, using the North Porch as a main entrance and building new accommodation for clergy on an orchard at the back of 20 The Close, so that existing Grade II* buildings presently used for the residentiary canons can be privately rented.

The plans have caused some controversy in the community with fears about a "creeping commercialisation" of the Close, disruption to worshippers by people using the North Porch while services are in progress, the loss of existing gardens to provide parking spaces for the new clergy housing and the safety of children at Salisbury Cathedral School if some of its grounds become open to the public.

Alternative proposals suggested by people during a consultation on the plans include housing the Magna Carta at Salisbury Museum or Wren Hall, equipping the canon homes with modern insulation rather than moving them elsewhere and providing further educational facilities in existing buildings rather than in new ones.

Several people criticised the lack of detail in the plan calling its general aspirations vague and saying many issues were left essentially unresolved.

If endorsed by councillors, the masterplan will be the basis of future development at the cathedral.

However, the endorsement will not predetermine any planning applications which will still have to be submitted for approval and considered on their own merits.

The masterplan initially included plans to use the Bishop's Palace as a home for the Magna Carta, staff and volunteers, but after an outcry from the Cathedral School which occupies the building, this was removed from the plan.

The idea of creating an auditorium for concerts and lectures on land to the north of the Bishop’s Palace was also scrapped with concerns over the impact it might have on the historic setting of the Close.

The planning meeting takes place at the City Hall on Thursday from 6pm.

To see the masterplan click here.