A PARCEL of land near a country park that residents argue is vital for the community has been sold at auction for £25,000 and could be built on.
The land, located at the top of Hilltop Way, went under the hammer on February 3.
‘Indicative’ computer-generated images presented at auction show that a row of four bungalows could be built on the redeveloped land.
Residents were left “shocked” and “deeply concerned” when they discovered the land, next to Castle Hill Country Park, was up for sale, arguing they had no prior notification.
The Friends of Hilltop Way group has now applied for the privately-owned land to become an Asset of Community Value, citing its importance to park users and a nearby junior school.
That means, should the land come up for sale again, the community will have six months to put together a bid to buy it.
The nomination form was submitted to Wiltshire Council on the day of the auction, and an accompanying letter was lodged the next day.
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Friends of Hilltop Way said: “The land is used every day, throughout the day and evening, by residents and visitors approaching the country park from the south of Salisbury.
“This includes dog walkers, families with children and individuals seeking daily access to green space, together with those seeking to improve or maintain their fitness and well-being levels, both physically and mentally through regular exercise and access to outside space.
“The land provides a safe, open area where people can arrive, gather, and move safely between Hilltop Way and the country park via the adjacent layby.
“This transitional space is especially important for families with children and for those who require a secure buffer from vehicle traffic before entering or leaving the park.
“The layby is regularly used by St Mark’s Junior School to deliver cycling proficiency training, providing a controlled and safe environment for children to develop essential cycling and road-safety skills.
“The site contains mature horse chestnut trees, a mature hedgerow and habitats supporting nesting birds.
“The ongoing community use of this land is not incidental – it is primary, long-standing and irreplaceable.
“If lost, there would be no equivalent safe southern access point to the country park, and local residents would lose a well-used, accessible recreational gateway.
“Given the daily use patterns, the structured involvement of St Mark’s Junior School, and the enduring importance of local green-space access, it is highly realistic that this land will continue to further community wellbeing for at least the next five years.”
The council is expected to make a decision on the application (ACV/2026/00002) by March 31.
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