PROTESTERS against plans by the Sangster family to build homes next to Rabley Wood in Marlborough are pleased the scheme has been turned down by Wiltshire Council but say it is too soon to celebrate.

Jayne Baker, who has led the fight to stop 39 homes and a play area being built on land that includes water meadows that were once used for military training and may still hide unexploded grenades. She said: "We do not think this is the end of the matter.

"We think they are almost certain to go to appeal. They have six months to make up their minds which leaves us in limbo."

Mrs Baker and her action group are pleased that members of the eastern area planning stood firm last Thursday and refused the application despite officers recommending approval.

She said: "At a previous meeting the officers made it clear they wanted it to go ahead so we are pleased to have got the support of the planning committee."

Mrs Baker of The Thorns said the water meadow land could be a dangerous location to build a play area as it was used as an army training area for troops recovering after being patients in a nearby military hospital during the Second World War.

She said: "A grenade was found there last year and the bomb squad was called. When the land was handed back by a commandant at the end of the war he said he was unable to confirm there were no unexploded devices and warned it should not be built on. So it doesn't seem to be a good place to put a play area."

Last month Wiltshire councillors voted to reject the proposal but had to come up with a planning reason for why it was being thrown out.

On Thursday at a meeting in Devizes the committee voted to refuse permission on the grounds that: "The proposed development is located within the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, at the interface between the built-up area of Marlborough and the countryside beyond."

They said government policy said great weight should be given to conserving the beauty of an area and the development would conflict with it.

The committee decided: "It would have a harmful impact on the landscape of this part of the AONB, through the change of use and associated works required to convert that part of the site lying within the water meadows to casual open space, and through the works required to the landscape screen between the water meadows and the proposed equipped play area."

At the previous meeting Richard Cosker speaking on behalf of his clients Guy and Ben Sangster of Manton House Estate told councillors extensive assessments have been carried out and feedback and concerns from last year had been taken onboard.

He said: "It has been clear from recent proposals in Marlborough people want more than just retirement homes built in the town and this proposal is a great opportunity for affordable housing."