THE fate of a piece of land in Marlborough, which locals wanted to become a village green, is still up in the air.

More than 70 people were at a meeting in Devizes last Thursday, where Wiltshire Council’s eastern area planning committee focused on plans to have green space between Barton Park and College Fields registered as a village green.

The fight to protect the four-and-a-half acres of land began in 2015 after Marlborough College proposed to build 100 new houses and a new building for Preshute School on land it owns near Barton Park.

As Wiltshire Council owns the land which could become a village green, and also has the power to refuse or approve the application, it was agreed to appoint an independent inspector to report on the legalities and hold a public inquiry.

“I tried to push it through right then and there but I was told that was not possible and even though this public inquiry will go ahead, I am positive this can be approved,” said Marlborough councillor Nick Fogg.

“I cannot anticipate exactly what will happen but there is a very strong case to give this the same status as common land and in terms of usage I feel it will satisfy the necessary criteria too.

“The original plan for the estate was to have this open space and for me the counter arguments are not strong enough to rebut it.

“It is very encouraging that there was such a good turnout. Someone said it was a record. They believe in localism and protecting their local environment, as they should. It is a complicated legal issue and a lot of people feel very strongly about it.

“But in regards to a decision I do not know when we can get a decision. It could be days, weeks, months.”

More than 120 letters backing the application have been sent to the council and the town council says it will not object to it.

Marlborough College in the past says the land is unused but at the meeting many residents refute this, saying it is regularly used for sport, dog walkers and children playing games. Environmentalists have planted a community orchard on the site.

Marlborough Town Council raised no objections to the plans.