A SCHEME to provide youngsters in Westbury with 25 acres of new playing fields has been scuppered by the narrowest of margins.

Developer Persimmon Homes had proposed a swap deal to build houses on land owned by Matravers School in return for providing the £2.4m facilities at Penleigh Park. But on Wednesday night district councillors defeated an amendment to the West Wiltshire District Plan 1st alteration by 18 votes to 17, leaving the much-championed scheme in tatters.

The district plan sets out West Wiltshire District Council's planning policy under which applications are judged. The alteration includes changes to Westbury's town policy limits, which now means the Matravers-owned land at Redland Lane and Penleigh Playing Field cannot be developed.

With Persimmon Homes unable to build on the land the swap cannot now take place, leaving sports clubs no nearer to meeting the increasing need for youth facilities.

The amendment, which would have paved the way for the sports facilities, was proposed by Cllr Jeff Osborn.

He said: "This is a chance for members to invest in the future. The homeowners who have opposed schemes like this have often been super nimbys.

"If this fails the people of Westbury won't thank us and they certainly won't thank those who vote against it tonight."

Many of those backing the sports facilities scheme used the meeting to voice their support and now feel badly let down.

Speaking on behalf of many Westbury youth sports clubs, Neil Hawker said: "The plan is a chance for us to grasp and for councillors to leave a legacy for the children of west Wiltshire."

Westbury mayor Horace Prickett said: "The Department for Education and Skills is supportive of the land swap so the exclusion of this from the town policy limits makes no sense because the secretary of state could overrule it."

Campaigners argue expanding numbers at Matravers School and increasing membership of clubs such as Westbury Youth FC mean the current facilities at Redland Lane are at bursting point.

But Wednesday's decision will be welcomed by a number of residents in Westbury's Oldfield Park area who were opposed to more housing.

Cllr Michael Mounde said: "There is a reasonable chance if we start going against the district plan at this stage we won't help ourselves in the future."

Wednesday's meeting also ensured the district plan caters for the proposed eastern route for the Westbury bypass and a relief road through the Hilperton Gap.

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