Ref. 22318-80TWO Highworth churches have quashed claims that the £3.8m they pocketed from a controversial land sale has not benefited the community.

Many residents were disappointed when St Michael's Church and the United Reformed Church sold the two meadows off Pentylands Lane three years ago.

The churches which made £1.9m each sold the land to a developer, but Swindon Council refused to allow houses on the site.

The fields were bequeathed to the churches for the benefit of the community, and are popular with walkers. Now, the Pentylands Preservation Trust which was formed to save the land wants to know what the churches plan to do with the money.

Chairman Norman Edwards said: "They have had this money for a considerable period of time, but do not appear to have done anything constructive for the community. The churches said they needed the cash for their buildings, but they also said they would help fund community projects."

Bryan Elkington, secretary of the URC, said the church had already dished out thousands of pounds for good causes.

He said: "We gave 10 per cent to charities straight away, and committed £36,000 to install disabled access in churches in North Wiltshire. We also gave £20,000 to the Highworth pool roof appeal, and £6,000 to Vorda Pre-School."

St Michael's Church has put the cash into a registered charity called Clinton's Gift, named after the vicar who donated the land in the late 18th Century.

The Rev Geoff Sowden said: "We cannot touch the £1.9m, we can only spend the interest, about £60,000 a year, because of Charity Commission rules.

"We cannot spend anything on projects other than the maintenance of St Michael's Church until the building is judged not to be in need of any more work. We would like to spend more money on community projects but we can't.

"We have already done work to the church, and we do believe that it is a community asset, although many people don't see it as that."

tlal@newswilts.co.uk