PARISH councillors in North Bradley have made a U-turn in their stance on Trowbridge Town Football Club's bid to build a covered stand on their home ground at Woodmarsh.

Initially backing the application, which would bring the ground up to Western League standard and help the club in its drive for promotion, parish councillors had a change of heart after hearing from angry residents.

Councillors said the applicants had misled them over the relocation of an equipment storage unit, while the lack of public toilets posed health and safety concerns.

West Wiltshire District Council's planning committee will debate the application, submitted by the club's landlord Trowbridge Town Council, on April 28.

Plans to create a 50-space covered stand and hard standing area for supporters has caused uproar amongst nearby residents.

Trowbridge Town FC treasurer Roy While said he was disappointed at the parish council's U-turn over what he labelled the club's "modest plans".

"It is time to start laying the facts on the table," he said.

"It is only a minor development. The relocated storage unit is actually going to be smaller overall.

"In this day and age you always expect people to make comments.

"In putting the application forward we have been very conscious of people's concerns."

Trowbridge Town look on course to secure promotion to the Western League next season, lying in second place with eight games to go before the end of the season.