A DEAL to swap school playing fields for a housing development and new sports pitches could collapse next week with a vote to change the shape of Westbury.

Changes to the West Wiltshire District Plan, which district councillors are expected to approve on Wednesday night, put land at Redlands Lane and Penleigh Playing Fields outside the boundaries of Westbury.

This would scupper plans for a land swap between Matravers School and Persimmon Homes where houses would be built on land owned by the school at Redlands Lane in return for 40 acres of land for sports pitches at Penleigh Park.

The West Wiltshire District Plan 1st Alteration, which sets out the policies the proposed developments will be judged by, including where homes can be built, goes before councillors on Wednesday.

Public consultation last year received 524 responses supporting modifications to the plan and 381 objections.

If councillors approve the latest proposals to the district plan it could be adopted by the end of May.

Residents near Redlands Lane have voiced anger at proposals for more houses but sports clubs are hoping the district plan can be overturned to allow up to 1,000 people to use the playing fields they would gain.

Roger Arnold, secretary of Westbury Youth FC, said: "The land swap would enable us to continue to expand to meet the needs of children and the sporting community as a whole.

"The only opposition is from nimbys at Oldfield Park who don't want homes at the bottom of the garden, but these are the people who allow their dogs to mess all over our current pitches.

"The council is preventing the growth of playing fields. A Football Association official told me west Wilts has the worst sporting facilities in the county."

No planning application has been put in for a land swap deal and the planning inspector has recommended the district council place the parks outside the town policy limits.

If the changes to the boundaries are ratified on April 21 the land swap could not take place for a further seven years.

Westbury resident David Illsley went to The Old Bailey in London two years ago to fight plans to build homes on Redlands Lane. He said: "No-one has come forward with proof that they can get away with building pitches on Penleigh playing fields. It's a swamp. There are a load of impracticalities.

"As for the houses, we have enough already. It could get to the stage where all the towns end up joined together."

Christopher Newbury, planning portfolio holder, said: "The district council is very supportive of new sports facilities and has allocated new recreational land at Westbury and elsewhere.

"When it comes to new housing allocations, there are long and complex procedures for promoting the allocation of greenfield land for new housing development. While those now proposing the development have not yet sought to take advantage of those procedures, it is open to them to promote their views in the context of the next review of the district plan."