VILLAGERS in Lacock are angry that they haven’t been consulted about the latest plans to expand Whitehall Garden Centre, which could see the site triple in size.

Expansion plans were first submitted and approved in 2008, then amended in 2012 but never implemented.

Managers at the garden centre say the latest proposals for a 14,000 sq ft extension, currently on display in the Orangery restaurant, address issues raised previously by residents.

Derek Walters, 63, of Notton Park, who spoke out against the plans in 2012, was surprised when the Gazette & Herald told him that a new consultation was underway.

“Consultations should include everyone but Whitehall is getting its customers to respond, which will be favourably, which effectively shows they have support for the plans,” he said.

“Most of the people who are looking at the plans will probably be customers passing through. It is not a consultation in a neutral venue and is therefore not a consultation at all. It is a means of PR to collate comments which will be in favour of redeveloping the site.”

Mr Walters, a keen cyclist who uses the cycle path near the garden centre, believes the plans will lead to more traffic and cause long tailbacks.

“TWe happen to live in a very nice part of the country but traffic along the A350 has increased the amount of traffic coming through Lacock and this is just going to increase it further,” he said.

He is also concerned that the site is becoming less of a garden centre and more of an out-of-town shopping destination.

“We should be supporting our town centres and not developing in rural areas,” he added.

“If it is a garden centre, I’d want them to sell things related to that but they are selling a number of things not related to gardens.

“The way I see it is they are packaging the place up so it will become a nice site they can sell as a shopping or entertainment venue.”

Peter Vanstone, of Notton Gardens, is also concerned about the impact on the area’s roads.

“The biggest problem we have with the plans is the increase in traffic through Notton. It has become a route for people to take shortcuts to get to the garden centre,” he said.

“I think the thing most people are concerned with is that it was a typical rural garden centre but now it is becoming an out-of-town shopping centre which is not required in this area. We have enough places to shop. I don’t think Whitehall knows what business it is these days.

“I had no idea about the consultation. I will make sure to take more notice in the future as I do not appreciate that they have kept things rather quiet for us.”

Whitehall managing director Peter Self said: “Staff from Whitehall Garden centre hand delivered letters to all the local residents surrounding the Garden centre, informing them of the community involvement event. Originally this was being held from 29th June to 6th July. They were also invited to come in on July 6, 4-8pm, so they could view the proposed plans and meet with myself and our consultants, and ask any questions or raise any concerns, if they had any.