PEOPLE are being asked for their views on controversial plans to use money allocated for Corsham railway station to fund other projects in the town.

Residents are being asked to write to town clerk David Martin with their comments following a town council meeting last week, at which only one councillor voted against the proposal.

The money was set aside as part of a section 106 agreement by the developers of Katherine Park to put towards a railway station for Corsham.

In October, North Wiltshire district councillor Christine Reid held a meeting in Corsham Town Hall to ask residents of the Katherine Park estate if they would like to see the £252,000 go towards a community hall.

Residents voted in favour of the proposal, which angered campaigners for Corsham station.

Chairman of Corsham Town Council Allan Bosley said: "There are already separate funds set aside for play areas, changing rooms and cycle paths but there may be other improvements that local people would like to see.

"The town council has been asked by the district council to explore the possibility of getting much more closely involved in future management and maintenance of amenities at Katherine Park, so any feedback from residents would be valuable to us."

People are now being asked to make their suggestions before the next leisure committee meeting at the town hall on January 9.

Mr Martin said: "People can put forward their suggestions on the matter and write to me at the town hall.

"At the meeting in January the committee will make a recommendation to the full council."

Corsham town councillor Peter Davis has been campaigning to get the station reopened for the past 25 years.

He said: "I am prepared to support an alternative use of the money if there is no possibility in any shape or form that the station is not going to materialise.

"Everyone is talking as if they are going to lose the money now, but this is not the case as it will be available for the next ten years.

"I said at the meeting that it is a very premature decision and I did say categorically that the decision to utilise the money for alternative uses should not really be considered at this stage."

Mr Davis said people ask him about the station being reopened on a daily basis, especially as the town is expanding.

Anyone wanting to comment on the proposals can write to town clerk David Martin at the Town Hall, High Street, Corsham SN13 OEZ.