GAZETTE & HERALD: THE long-running debate into whether a new £11.6 million record office will be built in Chippenham was due to be discussed by planners last night.

Proposals for the landmark Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office building, at the former cattle market on Cocklebury Road, have been recommended for approval.

North Wiltshire planners were hoping to discuss the matter at their December meeting, but a computer error meant the public had not had enough time to comment on the plans. They were deferred for discussion last night.

If the plans go ahead it will mark an important first step in a major redevelopment of the livestock market site.

The office will relocate from Trowbridge and the county council predicts it will be used by 25,000 people a year.

Plans to move it to Devizes were scuppered when the Heritage Lottery Fund decided the Devizes Wharf site was not viable. The Cocklebury Road site was identified but a bid for funding was rejected.

The district council, which owns the cattle market, is hoping a developer will buy the rest of the site for housing.