Ownership of the play area in Rabley Wood View could be taken on by Marlborough Town Council to stop developers trying to build on it.

The suggestion that the town council look into a Community Asset Transfer was mooted by Coun Peggy Dow during a planning meeting on Monday evening when a draft amended proposal for the Sangsters’ development was considered.

Guy and Ben Sangster submitted a planning application to build on Wiltshire Council-owned land next to Rabley Wood View last year.

To compensate for the loss of the recreation land, the Sangsters applied for change of use for 14 hectares of nearby agricultural land to a nature park.

Their plans were rejected by Wiltshire Council but the developers still have two months to lodge an appeal.

The latest proposal, which is not a formal planning application, has been put forward by RCC Town Planning, an agent for the family. The number of houses has been reduced from 46 to 39 with no provision for a nature park.

According to RCC Town Planning, reducing the number of houses will enable the developers to provide a large open space and a smaller grassed play area will be provided on the Manton Estate on land next to the current recreation area.

Coun Dow said: “Can we find out if it’s possible to purchase the playing fields so that this can never happen again.”

Jayne Baker, of The Thorns said: “The proposed kickabout area is on a water meadow which often floods, making this totally unsuitable for year-round recreational use.”