DEVIZES town council is against Wiltshire County Council's scheme to put up 22 lampposts along a 550-metre stretch of the towpath of the Kennet and Avon Canal between London Road and Quakers Walk.

Councillors voted to write to the council to rethink its plan to light the towpath with four-metre high galvanised steel columns.

Coun Pete Smith said: "I have spoken to everyone who lives down there and no one is in favour of this. They say it will encourage bad elements to gather there."

Coun Ray Taylor said: "The county council seem desperate to be able to say they have spent £50,000 on Devizes. They should be encouraged to spend the money elsewhere in a way that will really benefit the community."

Coun Julian Beinhorn said the money would be better spent on improving road surfaces around the town or providing extra street lighting on the Green.

The county council envisaged the scheme as part of the local transport plan which encourages people to walk or cycle rather than take their cars to travel round the town. Jeff Ody, chairman of the Trust for Devizes, who said that the canal would resemble a motorway if the columns went up.

If planning approval is granted for a housing estate on land at nearby Quakers Walk, street lighting will become necessary along the ancient footpath.