THE long battle to secure land for a business park in Marlborough could be over.

A Sold sign has gone up on the hoarding advertising the 15-acre field on the east side of Salisbury Road as a business park.

The site, known locally as the triangular field, has until now been owned by the Crown Estate and had been marketed for almost two years by Carter Jonas and Dreweatt Neate.

At the time it went on the market with a guide price of £900,000 a spokesman for the joint agents said: "The exciting plans for the site will bring employment and further commercial activity to a town, which due to its historical position on the A4, has had strong commercial links for many centuries.

"The site is likely to appeal to a wide range of businesses and should prove of interest to both developers and occupiers wishing to create their own tailor-made environment."

Marlborough has been pressing for an industry/business site for more than 30 years.

In the late Sixties the Chamber of Commerce was unsuccessful when it tried to get the former Borough Council to release land at Portfields now the housing estate as an employment site.

Former employment sites like Burts Yard in London Road where Haydn's Bakery relocated before moving to Devizes, and Harley's Yard on the other side of the road, have been used for housing.

The only business development the town has seen was the small area behind Skurrays Garage in George Lane which, apart from Checkpoint tyres, has been empty since Haydn's bakery quit the town.

Mark Wightman from Dreweatt Neate and Dominic Birkmyre from Carter Jonas confirmed yesterday that the site had been sold but said they were unable yet to name the buyer or say how much it was sold for.

Mr Wightman said: "The use will be very much in accordance with the planning permission that was given by Kennet District Council."