CONSULTATION on plans to build around 100 houses on part of the playing field of Devizes School has now finished but it could be weeks before it is decided whether or not to push ahead with the scheme.

Headteacher Phil Bevan has promised the project which would raise millions of pounds to help carry out a revamp of school buildings will not go ahead if it does not have backing from the community.

He said this week: “The consultation information has to be analysed along with other feedback. This will take some time.”

Fears about traffic congestion, pollution and noise were raised at a public meeting held at the school before Christmas and pupils took to the school field to stage a day long protest.

At the time Mr Bevan said the discusion was about consultation not confrontation and he urged people both in favour and against the project to sell off 5.7 acres of land next to Nursteed Road to take part in the consultation which ended on Monday.

He later told the Gazette that he would not support the land sell-off if it was clear it was not what the people of Devizes wanted.

But during a tour of the neglected areas of the school he pointed out what a difference the £2 million, which is likely to be raised by the land sell-off, would make.

He said that while some areas of the school had been updated and redecorated others were in a poor state with water coming through ceilings, rotting windows and peeling paintwork.

He said: “I know this is a contentious issue. But if we sell the land every penny that is raised will go back into Devizes School.”

Dr Nicholas Capstick CEO from the White Horse Federation, which is an academy that runs Devizes School, said: “We do not want to alienate the community.”

But auctioneer Alan Aldridge pointed out that Nursteed Road was already busy and had seen a number of serious accidents over the years. He said: “It is already a very dangerous stretch of road.” He was worried that if 100 homes were built with access from Nursteed Road the problem of road safety would become much worse.

Town councillor Ian Hopkins said that after playing field land was previously sold off people were promised this was a one off decision and would not be repeated. He said: “Those assurances and pledges have been broken.”