TOWN councillors are facing an uphill struggle to keep green spaces in Melksham as plans for a merger of three primary schools moves to the next stage.

Councillors agreed to call on Wiltshire County Council to designate any land freed-up by a proposed school merger as a town green at a meeting on Monday, but county council officers have already said the land needs to be sold to finance the merger plan.

A consultation exercise with parents of children at Lowbourne Infants School, Lowbourne Junior School and St Michael's Primary School has been launched, outlining the possibility of the three schools becoming two.

Cllr Sarah Cardy said it was important to look at the bigger picture and fight to save the town's green spaces.

"If you look at an aerial map of Melksham St Michael's and Lowbourne Juniors hold two of the town's green lungs. We don't know what our chances are of saving the land judging by experiences in Westbury."

The county council has said if the merger goes ahead one site is to be sold to fund extensions at the remaining schools, but possibly only part of the land would be sold. A spokesman said it would take the town council's wishes into account.

Consultation documents sent to parents suggest Lowbourne Infants School extends its age range to become a primary school and Lowbourne Junior and St Michael's merge to form a second primary school.

No decisions have been made and it is not yet known which site would be sold off if the merger were to go ahead.

The town council hopes to persuade the county council to sell the land without attached planning permission so a potential developer would have to take any application through planning.

Parents have raised concerns at the proposals with those whose children are due to change schools next year worried their children might have to move twice.

Two of the schools involved are in special measures after failing Ofsted reports.

Parents have until September 1 to respond to the council's proposals.