A £1m package of land including an 18-hole golf course, social club and fishing lake in Westbury has sparked a flurry of interest from buyers just weeks after going on sale.

The Lafarge cement factory, which is due to be mothballed at the end of the month as a result of the faltering construction industry, resulting in the loss of 60 jobs, is selling its 200 acres of land and sporting facilities.

Steve Brewer, who runs The Hollies pub in Westbury Leigh and has been running the Lafarge social club, now called Westbury Country Park, has already said he is interested in buying the portfolio and vowed to keep the sporting facilities running just as they are.

Mr Brewer told the Wiltshire Times he is concerned publicity over his interest will now reduce his chances of buying the club.

“We want to buy the place and keep it as it is,” he said.

“When it came on the market we showed an interest straight away. Everyone on the whole site wants to keep it as it is.

“More and more people have found out about it and we could lose the site now because of the price, that is the unfortunate thing.

“Lafarge is a business and it will just take the best offer.”

Lafarge has vowed to run the sporting facilities until the end of 2009.

The portfolio includes land set aside for compulsory purchase by Wiltshire Council for the Westbury bypass, which was the subject of a public inquiry last year, the results of which will be known later this year.

Molly Hopkins, secretary of the golf club, is hoping Mr Brewer will be successful in his bid.

She said: “I think Steve is an excellent guy. I think he is brilliant and he has done a wonderful job with the social club. You just don’t know what other people are going to buy it for.

“Other people might buy it with other ideas in mind but at least Steve is keen to keep it as it is, as a country park. That’s what we all want.”

Fisherman Mark Poppleton, who uses the lake, said: “A lot of people are concerned as to what is going to happen at the fishing lake.

“From my point of view I think that it is a good thing that Steve is keen to take on the site without making any changes.

“There is a certain amount of work that needs doing there but the social club is very good and that’s only just been refurbished.

“It is a great facility and it would be a shame to lose it.”

Lafarge's land and planning director David Simms, whose team will be managing the site when the factory is mothballed, said: “Despite a decrease in the number of people using the club over the last 10 years, the company has supported activities at the club for many years to ensure the continued availability of its facilities to local residents in Westbury.

“Following a thorough marketing campaign by our estate agents Strutt & Parker, there has been good interest in the club and the land, which is currently being assessed.

“Of course, any interested parties are fully aware of any outstanding public planning decisions which may impact on this land – in particular the decision on where to locate the proposed Westbury bypass.”