74380-10RESIDENTS in Cricklade have blocked plans by waste giant Hills to expand in Purton. The family firm had hoped to build a concrete batching plant on the Mopes Lane industrial estate in the village.

But plans were turned down by North Wilts development control committee last week following a storm of complaints from angry residents in Cricklade who raised fears of extra traffic and pollution in their town.

Margaret Griffiths, town clerk for Cricklade, said: "I've lived here for a very long time and I care very much about what happens in the town," she said.

"We have a problem with traffic anyhow which is why we're pushing for a southern relief road.

"I've been told the dust can travel some miles and as a resident and as the clerk I don't want another 50 vehicles travelling through Cricklade.

"These lorries would have been very heavily laden. Hills said they wouldn't necessarily have come through the town but who would police that?"

Up to 1,300 HGVs are said to travel through the town each day.

Chris Morley, of Cricklade Action Partnership, which develops projects to improve the town's parking and tourist facilities, said residents are breathing a sigh of relief.

"We had some data that 50 lorries was almost the minimum to make the plant viable, and most of the journeys would have come through Cricklade," he said.

Purton parish council backed the petition.

Shirley Bevington, parish clerk, added: "We objected to it because of highway traffic implications.

"Near Ashton Keynes all the hedgerows are discoloured as a result of the aggregates at nearby gravel pits and we wouldn't want that to happen here.

"We recognise that Swindon is industrial but 50 lorries a day would be a big increase.

Hills Minerals and Waste general manager Paul Dixon said: "We're very disappointed that the plan was not given permission, because we believe it complies with the structure plan for north Wiltshire."

David Andrew