A ROW has erupted between Aster and Marlborough Town Council over who owns the walkway to the Priory Gardens from the High Street.

Councillors are up in arms that the housing company wants to erect ‘private property’ signs and put a gated fence at the entrance used by pedestrians to reach the popular amenity, donated to the town 45 years ago.

The former Kennet District Council transferred The Priory care home building in the gardens to Sarsen Housing, now Aster, in 1995 but at the time no one established a right of way.

Aster is now claiming they own the path that also passes through their glass extension built in 1977, as well as the small car park used by council gardeners and organisers of events including the town’s jazz festival.

Marlborough Town Council is hastily seeking legal advice as the Priory Gardens were donated to the former borough council in 1971 by Tomasine Clay, in memory of her husband. The town council also gave Aster a piece of garden around 15 years ago and Aster has asked the council to remove their sign from the grass.

The company says it was prompted to look into their liability and ownership issues after a resident fell in the grounds, but do not intend to stop people using the route.

Speaking on Monday at the town council meeting, councillors said they are prepared to ‘fight tooth and nail’ to stop it.

Councillor Guy Loosmore said: “Has it really been caused by a resident falling over? The whole thing doesn’t add up.

“I am deeply disturbed by this attack on something that has belonged to the town for a long time and here we are being challenged, quite aggressively. We do need to stand up to it.”

Councillor Alexander Kirk Wilson said he ‘deeply deplored it’ and councillor Alec Light described it as ‘diabolical.’

Councillor Marian Hannaford Dobson added: “I am deeply shocked by these people, that we consider friends, are now stabbing us in the back.”

The only other way to access the public garden is through the gate in Figgins Lane.

An Aster spokesman said: “We are working with Marlborough Town Council regarding proposals we have made relating to access between Priory Gardens and Marlborough High Street, via land we own at The Priory, our sheltered housing scheme.

“The proposals we have made are to ensure the safety of our elderly and vulnerable customers at The Priory. We have no intention of stopping people using the route in question.”