Calne councillors have successfully fought a battle to keep a piece of conservation land out of the local plan for development.

North Wiltshire District Council had included Quemerford House in the local plans, meaning it would be available for housing development.

But at a meeting last week district councillor John Ireland and the Council for the Protection of Rural England argued that the land should be withdrawn because it was a listed building in a conservation area.

Coun Ireland said: "The owner was actively pursuing a planning application for houses to be built inside the grounds of the property. "

He added: "There was a great deal of local feeling against any development in the area."

There is now very little chance that the owner will be granted planning permission for housing development.