Furious Calne residents and councillors have slammed plans to build a concrete plant near homes and schools.

Wincanton-based Hopkins Developments wants to put up a concrete plant in the Porte Marsh Industrial Estate. But 50 angry residents attended a town council planning meeting on Tuesday to voice their opposition.

Councillors unanimously voted to object to the proposal under a policy which does not allow development where emissions would cause demonstrable harm to the surrounding area.

Fred Curd from William Street said: "We have two junior schools nearby. Where is the sense in allowing planning permission for this factory? The dust from the concrete works will go everywhere. Think about the volume of traffic it will create. The lorries will come out and go wherever they like. I just cannot understand why we need this plant."

Mums who attended feared the plant would release dust and pollutants into the air, compounding the respiratory problems of children suffering from asthma.

Two primary schools, St Edmund's and St Dunstan's are near the proposed site.

As well as potentially having adverse effects on their health, the mothers felt the heavy lorries coming in and out of the site posed an accident risk to children and the elderly.

Charlotte Head, from Primrose Close said: "As a caring parent, I think parents will be extremely worried. "

Holding a petition full of signatures, Jennifer Bainbridge, from Bluebell Grove, said the health and safety of children were her main concern. Having lived near a concrete plant in Westbury, she said she did not want the fears again.

Julie Loader from Oxford Road criticised North Wiltshire District Council for not informing residents sooner.

"Nobody has had any notification about the plant," said Miss Loader.

Deputy Mayor Cathy Bowyer said: "I am a nurse by profession. The pollution that will be created by this plant will affect people. We already have two concrete works in Calne and a third is not needed."

Town and district councillor John Ireland said: "Contamination of this sort will do irreparable damage to people's health. We must reject this."

Coun Peter Dolman said the governors' chairman at St Dunstan's School was also not made aware of the proposal.

The Gazette tried to contact Peter Morgan, who works at the agency Tetlow King, and is dealing with the application on behalf of Hopkins Developments. However, he was unable to be contacted.