FAMILIES in Calne are furious that an Edwardian Bath stone house could be destroyed to allow Sainsbury's to expand its store.

The food giant is planning to demolish the house next to its store in The Pippin so it can extend on to the land in order to meet increased demand from shoppers.

It plans to extend along the private road Cop Croft to create an additional 481 square metres of retail and storage space. No extra jobs will be created.

The plans include demolishing No 1 Cop Croft and its brick outbuilding, redirecting a footpath and moving a car parking space. The parking space for No 2 Cop Croft would be replaced by a private drive next to the house.

Residents of Nos 3 to 10 Cop Croft, supported by residents of The Pippin, are strongly objecting to the plans.

"We do not wish a quiet, traditional residential street of cottages to be over shadowed by a monstrous supermarket back wall," said Emma Williams, of 3 Cop Croft.

After looking at the plans Michael Childs, of The Pippin, said they affected his house more than he thought they would.

"This could affect residents' plans to sell their houses. And no-one knew anything about it. We had to pro-actively look for the notices," he said.

Mrs Williams also said the plans included moving the public footpath onto her land and she found this totally unacceptable, particularly as she has not been consulted. She said she was not willing to negotiate over the land at all.

Residents also oppose the plans because the turning area for vehicles on the narrow road is already restricted. Extending the store would result in losing the turning space, forcing drivers to reverse on to the main road.

Apart from the owners of 1 and 2 Cop Croft, none of the residents were informed of the plans within the correct period of notice.

The supermarket chain argues that the extension plans will enhance the vitality and viability of the town centre without causing demonstrable harm.

A letter attaching the store's planning application said: "The scheme consists of a high quality design which takes account of its surroundings and sympathetically relates to the townscape of the area.

"It will improve the environment and preserve the character and appearance of the nearby conservation area."

More than 30 residents attended the Calne Town Council development control meeting last week, all in opposition to the proposals.

Coun Carol O'Gorman said she wanted the conservation area to be extended to include Cop Croft and The Pippin.

"It is one of the most delightful areas we have left in Calne. If we don't do something permanently we are going to have this problem again," she said.

Seven councillors voted to call for a public inquiry to delay the planning application. There was one abstention.