WORRIED residents are launching a petition to save a threatened convenience shop and petrol station in Warminster.

Developers are in negotiations with landowners of the Toyota car showroom, Murco petrol garage and Costcutters shop on Victoria Road.

Although the site is not up for sale a housing firm and retail company have put in offers after the landowners, Renrod, secured permission to move the site to the White Horse Business Park in Trowbridge.

Now local residents are ready to petition up to 2,000 households surrounding the shop, which is being referred to as a lifeline.

Pensioner Diana Turner, of Victoria Road, said: "There has been a garage there for 44 years and I use the shop all the time, as do many other people.

"It's very busy whenever you go there as you can always get what you want from the lottery to newspapers. For many of us it serves as a lifeline.

"It's not right for the builders to move in and take it away from us.

"I will be setting up the petition and I am sure there are many other people who would sorely miss the shop if houses were built there."

Warminster Town Councillor Les Rose lives 500 yards from the shop and garage and has volunteered to help Mrs Turner set up the petition.

He said: "There are about 2,000 houses in the area that are all served by the shop and garage.

"In the last six years two shops nearby have closed down because they just couldn't compete with what Costcutters has to offer.

"As for the car showroom, it is the only place in the west of Warminster where you can get an MOT and people from the whole of the south of England travel here to buy cars.

"If there has to be houses I hope the planning authority thinks very carefully and listens to residents and keeps the community shop and petrol station, which are extensively used by young mothers on the way to school, the elderly and almost everyone who lives in the area."

The new site is set to reopen at the White Horse Business Park on the outskirts of Trowbridge in October and a deal on the Victoria Road site is expected in the next month.

Renrod has not made a decision on the future of the site and no planning application has been submitted.

A spokesman for Renrod said: "It has not been confirmed who is buying the land or whether it will be for retail use or for housing.

"The future of the forecourt shop lies in the hands of the new buyers, whoever that may be.

"The new motor park at the White Horse Business Park in Trowbridge will create a boost for jobs in the town and the surrounding areas."