A LONG-awaited decision on a hotly debated relief road in Trowbridge is due to be made by planners tonight.

Protesters are expected to turn up in force at a special planning meeting to be held at the Civic Hall to decide if a road should be built through land known as the Hilperton Gap.

Peter Hayes, of Horse Road, Hilperton, said: "The fate of the village of Hilperton will be decided and the future of the village of Staverton could be affected for years to come.

"If people don't care enough to come to the meeting and voice their views, I fear that the area between Hilperton and Trowbridge will be swallowed up by development and the village will become just a part of Trowbridge."

The road has proved to be a contentious issue, splitting the village of Hilperton into two camps, one supporting the application, the other campaigning against it.

There are those that welcome the road as a way to relieve congestion, particularly along Hill Street and Church Street.

Pressure group The Friends of Hilperton Gap argue the road would ruin the area of green open land that currently provides a buffer zone between Hilperton and Trowbridge.

A spokesman said: "We fully support the concept of a relief road for Hilperton, our dispute is with the proposed route."

The district council has received 180 letters opposing the road and 17 in support of it.

Objections have also been received from Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, The Ramblers Association and the Open Spaces Society.

At a meeting in September Trowbridge Town Council opposed the proposal on the grounds of loss of

amenity and damage to the environment and Hilperton Parish Council has also raised objections.

There are also fears the application, by developer Persimmon Homes, could lead to more housing development in the area.

Despite the objections the district council's planning officer has recommended the application be approved.

The report to the council states: "It is essential that the provision of this relief road be secured in advance of the release of a number of housing sites included in the development plan.

"Accordingly, the delivery of the Hilperton Relief Road is of central importance to the delivery of the Development Plan housing strategy for west Wiltshire in the period to 2011."