Traders in Chippenham have hit out at plans to turn the former Woolworth’s into a Costa coffee shop.

Half of the store reopened this week with as Poundland. Costa is awaiting planning permission to change use of the other space from retail to selling food and drink.

Victor Mandryko, of Salad Select in the Market Place, said: “Chippenham is being destroyed by its local authorities. There are already too many coffee shops.

“I don’t mind competition but let’s not kill off all the smaller independents which are the backbone of the community.

“It is the people that run the independent shops who live here and want the best for the town. The big chains aren’t here to support Chippenham, they just want to make money.

“We already have Starbucks, Subway and Greggs within 200 yards of each other.

“When Woolworth’s closed it was the ideal opportunity to do something positive and instead they’ve put in a pound shop and a coffee shop. The town centre is dying.”

Bob Perks of the Chippenham Chamber of Commerce said it wasn’t sour grapes from shop owners.

“It is not about coffee shop owners opposed to competition. The biggest concern is losing prime retail space.

“When Costa applied to take over the shop that is now the Officers’ Club, their application was turned down.

“It seems bizarre that now they want to move into an even more important retail area we would be ok with it.

“The town desperately needs some serious retail, we have plenty of phone shops, charity shops and coffee shops.”

A coffee shop owner who didn’t want to be named said Costa wouldn’t help the jobs market.

She said: “Stating there will be a number of jobs created is naive. The effect on other businesses will be felt, particularly as this brand is well known for its aggressive marketing and willingness to trade at a loss to achieve market share.”

Mike Bryant from Lone Eagle Retail, which owns the property, said there were no department stores looking to occupy the space. He hoped to have planning permission and a lease agreed with Costa by the end of the month.