A windfall of £49,953 has landed in the lap of Marlborough town council following the almost forgotten development of housing on the former St John’s School site in Orchard Road, Marlborough.
The sale of the land helped to fund the £25 million rebuilding of the school in 2009, the developers agreeing to a Section 106 payment to the community when planning permission was granted by Wiltshire Council.
The size of the windfall was revealed by the Mayor, Councillor Guy Loosmore, to surprised councillors at this week’s town council meeting.
The money is specifically earmarked to go to new recreational projects in the town.
“This substantal sum of money, which has come virtually out of the blue, is great for the town,” said the Mayor.
The council’s Amenities and Open Spaces Committee is being asked to recommend how the money is to be spent.
Councillor Bryan Castle, the committee’s chairman, said he welcomed suggestions from both fellow councillors and members of the public.
The projects can range from football and cricket pitches and activiity centres to children’s swings and slides and even land purchase.
One likely project is the provision of tennis courts on the Common for Marlborough Tennis Club. Another possibility is Stonebridge Meadow.
A Section 106 windfall of £10,358 which came from the development of housing in New Road, Marlborough, last October is to go towards new lighting at Salisbury Road skate park and improvements at other play areas.
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