A PROPOSAL by Marlborough College to offer a new site for Preshute School and build around 100 houses near College Fields has divided opinion in the town.

Staff and governors at Preshute Primary School are delighted by the prospect but residents living around College Fields are outraged.

Marlborough Town Council planning committee was informed about a proposal for the development on land to the north of Barton Park and College Fields through a joint statement from Preshute School and the college.

In April 2014 the school announced it was looking at moving to land next to St George’s Church in Manton, also owned by the college, but the site was deemed unviable.

Chairman of the governors Zoe Garbutt said: “We’re very excited, it’s something we’ve been looking for for a very long time.

“The Local Authority has been looking on our behalf for some time now and we’ve been in contact with Marlborough College previously about a different project that didn’t turn out to be feasible.

“We’ve been here before with different options so while we’re excited we don’t want to build our hopes up too much because it’s still in the very early stages.

“We’re really happy with this location because it’s where most of the children who go to the school live and we’re really pleased it this side of the A4 because of the issues with crossing the A4 safely.”

At a Marlborough Town Council meeting on Monday night residents voiced concerns over the proposal.

Loren Best, of Hawkins Meadow, said: “There are lots of rumours going around at the moment.

“I live opposite the green area and I would like a clarification as to what land has been put forward for the housing and school and where the access would be.

“We’re concerned because College Fields at the moment is really chock-a-block, Marlborough is completely congested and I don’t want to lose that green.”

At least by 303 houses have to be built in Marlborough by 2026. There is an application with Wiltshire Council to build 220 houses on Crown Estate off the Salisbury Road but it has not yet been given approval.

Ian Mellor, of Farrar Drive, said: “There seems to be a presumptuous attitude on behalf of the college that a new primary school is enough to buy 100 houses.”

Trudi Granger, of College Fields, added: “What are we supposed to think when we see tripods being set up on College Fields road and looking up at the green field area.

“We can’t just turn a blind eye.”

Following recent consultations with town councils, parish councils and the development industry the spatial planning department at Wiltshire Council has looked at potential housing sites in Marlborough.

Representation was received by Wiltshire Council from Marlborough College to include land north of Barton Park as a potential site.

Wiltshire and Town councillor Stewart Dobson explained that the proposed land ran from behind Manton Hollow up to the back of College Fields and, if that site was to go ahead, access would probably be though the green space through Barton Park and College Fields.

He said: “Spatial planning has not made any decisions regarding where further housing will go in Marlborough and this particular site is just one of the options under consideration.

“The spatial planning department will gather evidence, they’ll consider all the options and then develop a draft plan that will be made widely available for public consultation later this year.”