Supermarket giant ASDA has split opinion in Chippenham by going to the Court of Appeal over its bid to open a superstore in the town.

The company is preparing to spend hundreds of thousands of pounds to get its way but has been accused of trying to ride roughshod over the planning process by opponents of the Langley Park scheme.

A second slightly scaled down planning application has been lodged with Wiltshire Council, and ASDA bosses admit they will pull out of the Appeal Court battle if this is approved.

Chris Caswell, Wiltshire councillor for Monkton Park, said:“This is something that people are not happy about and it is an unequal process.

“I just hope there is no suggestion that ASDA are putting pressure on the council to avoid the appeal process.

“It has left many people feeling between dissatisfied and weary. I think it will drag on and on.”

David Turner, who lives in Langley Road and runs a clothes stall on the weekly market, said: “The sheer amount of traffic that will be squeezed along the small roads up there will be horrendous and it will take trade from the town centre – which is already on the verge of collapsing.

“This is all about position and it is just not suitable.”

Other people cannot wait for cut-price food and clothes to arrive in Chippenham.

Mum-of-two Christine Partridge said that practically everyone she has spoken to supports the proposal.

Mrs Partridge, of Redland, said: “Chippenham has become a ghost town with more and more shops shutting.

“I think ASDA coming to the town can only be a good thing – it offers the prospect of more jobs, cheaper food and clothes and, frankly, something new and exciting for the town.

“I hope ASDA get this as no other company in this economic climate would keep trying after being knocked back so many times.”

The application to the Court of Appeal is for permission to build 192 homes and 52, 000 sq. ft of retail development. The new plan is for 220 homes and supermarket of 38,000 sq ft.

A spokesman for landowner Ashtenne said: “Several consultation responses are still awaited in respect of the latest planning application and accordingly, the developer still faces a degree of uncertainty over whether the improved masterplan is acceptable.”

“The current application is a significant improvement on the original scheme and Ashtenne would be prepared to withdraw the original application from the appeal process, should the current application be approved.”