Opposition to the Rabley Wood development in Marlborough is mounting with Ogbourne St Andrew and Mildenhall Parish Councils both sending letters of objection to Wiltshire Council.

Originally Mildenhall Parish Council supported the application to change a 14-hectare piece of agricultural land in Marlborough into a nature park which the Manton Estate, the former home of the late millionaire Robert Sangster, wants to exchange for nearby recreation ground owned by Wiltshire Council.

If the exchange goes ahead, brothers Guy and Ben Sangster plan to build 46 houses on the council-owned land and replace the kick-about area and play area within the nature park.

Mildenhall Parish Council has since withdrawn its support and, along with Ogbourne St Andrew, has objected to the plans due to concerns over parking, road safety, sewerage and future maintenance.

Angela Fry, of Rogers Meadow said: “I’m happy that they’ve changed their minds and I’m glad that all the local parish councils and the town council are objecting in the same way.

“My main objection is the loss of the field because the replacement is not a like-for-like replacement.

“It’s very well used, despite what the developers say. People come from all over Marlborough to use that field. It’s used by such a range of people. Children come to play with their friends, adults play football on there and there are dog walkers from dawn to dusk.”

The Wiltshire Eastern area planning committee is expected to discuss the application at the end of June.