Plans for the continued redevelopment of Calne town centre have been revitalised. A long-term plan to develop the town was set out by North Wiltshire District Council more than five years ago.

Phases one and two were complete by the end of 2001 but since then further plans have been put on the back burner.

Phase one included redevelopment in the Bank House area and it won several awards once completed. This was followed by phase two which involved the construction of the new library, six shops and 14 social housing flats on the former Harris meat factory site.

Now district councillor Carol O'Gorman has brought the project back to life after a two-year lull, by reviving the original development brief.

"It is very, very early days at this stage and it will involve a lot of planning and a lot of funding," said district councillor Simon Coy.

A working group has been formed to look at the original development plan for phases three and four set out in 2001 by district officers.

"We are looking at what is relevant and what is no longer an issue. We are bringing it up to date and looking at how to go about doing it and who will finance it. There is the possibility of private finance through partnership working," said Coun Coy, chairman of the working group.

Phase two was completed when the Queen opened the library in December 2001. The library won a commendation in the annual Civic Trust Awards earlier this year and was runner up in the Public Library Buildings Awards.

However the district council was slammed for overspending by £2 million on the redevelopment. In April 2001 tit was criticised in a report for appointing an officer without the necessary expertise to oversee the Calne town centre development.

The council commissioned the £10,000 report, when the £5 million project to build a library, six shops and 14 flats was found to be £2 million over budget and 27 weeks behind schedule.

However once the library was finally opened, completing phases one and two, plans were drawn up by architect Aaron Evans for the next stages.

In 1989, his Bath-based firm Aaron Evans Architects won the national competition to redevelop and breathe new life into the town, following the void left by the demolition of the Harris factory in 1983.

His ideas for phase three included the redevelopment of the 1970s Phelps Parade shopping arcade, a covered market and making more of the town's river as a focal point.

Mr Evans also suggested a pub restaurant on the site of the market, provided the market could be moved somewhere else. He suggested a covered market be put behind the library along with a supermarket selling lower cost goods.

The working group is now looking at these original ideas, which were passed on to district officers to form part of their blueprint for phases three and four.

The group is made up of representatives from Calne Town Council and the district council and will be looking at ways in which shops can keep their businesses open while the area is being redeveloped.

The group is currently meeting once every two months while district officers put the information together.

"Once we have all the information we will then meet to decide what the next stage forward will be. We have high hopes that it will develop the town centre.

"The town council are committed as they are willing to put money forward," said Coun Coy.

The town's policy and resources committee agreed last week to provide up to £15,000 towards the cost of a revised development brief for phases three and four.