A SHELTERED housing scheme for more than 100 pensioners in Westbury hit a setback this week amid concerns it did not include enough car parking.

Developer McCarthy and Stone Ltd hopes to convert Frogmore House into 50 apartments and build a further eight retirement cottages in its grounds.

The firm believes the Grade II listed building and former Peter Black cosmetics factory in Frog-more Road is an ideal site because of its closeness to the town centre.

But on Monday, Westbury Town Council's planning committee objected to the application, which will mainly cater for people aged 75 and above. The scheme has only allocated 22 car parking spaces, which councillors felt should be increased, although they admitted it was a good idea.

Cllr Pamela Cox-Maidment said: "These are 50 flats with 22 parking spaces. We need one space per flat. If people don't drive themselves they will have visitors. If they can't park there they'll be parking on the access road."

But members felt that objecting to the plan was the only way their parking concerns would be addressed. West Wiltshire District Council's planning committee will now decide whether the application gets the go-ahead.

Monday's vote came despite a presentation from McCarthy and Stone's agent The Planning Bureau Ltd.

Spokesman Kieran Rafferty said: "Experience shows that people move to a place like this with a car, but will soon get rid of it because of the proximity of the shops."