The land in the foreground is where developers want to build a park, business development and new homesDEVELOPERS are hoping they have come up with a deal which Wootton Bassett can't refuse.

Wainhomes has been trying unsuccessfully for years to come up with a proposal to build homes and a business development on land near Vowley View.

Now the company is hoping to win people over by offering to create a new 60,000-acre country park as part of the scheme.

But residents are still wary and warn that the benefits of a park could be outweighed by the damage that would be done if homes and offices also get the nod of approval.

The idea has so far received a mixed response in the town.

Wootton Bassett Town Council and the developers held a meeting to discuss the way forward for the park, the housing development and a two-acre business development.

Details about what would make up the country park are not yet known but landscape architects are to be instructed to draw up plans.

And people will have the chance to air their views.

Coun Chris Wannell said that the council had encouraged Wain-homes to hold a public exhibition so everyone could make their thoughts known.

He said: "We can't kick this out of court. We have to think about it very carefully in the context of benefit to the whole town.

"We have to weigh up the damage to the local environment against the good that a 60-acre country park could bring to the town."

Coun Peter Roberts said: "I certainly welcome a country park being established to protect the escarpment of Brynards Hill, which we have been trying to do.

"But a developer would have to come forward with a concrete plan. At the moment it is just a blueprint.

Coun Audrey Wannell said that the town needed a big open space.

"The residents of Vowley View have always known that at some time or other this land would be developed.

"We want to get the best development for the whole of the town.

"At the moment we haven't got a big open space and it would be very useful for the public to have ownership of this."

But Vowley View resident Georgina Mason was not convinced a deal should be struck.

"This is not straightforward," she said.

"If the plan was to make a country park that would be lovely. But the deal is that this will happen only if they can build 70 houses at the top, and an extension to an industrial estate at the bottom. That would not really be a country park it would be an urban park.

"They have been trying to build houses there for many years and have not yet got permission.

"Three times they have been refused. Now they are putting forward the same proposal.

"In the adopted local plan, and the emerging new local plan categorically none of this land is up for development.

"I don't think we should be bargaining. I would rather have a complete green space, and open countryside, than a so-called country park."

David Andrew