DEVELOPERS with their eyes on key sites in Trowbridge are being asked to co-operate with the team putting together a framework for its future.

Consultants, employed by the partnership behind the project, are already using findings from previous Vision for Trowbridge research to help them come up with an 'urban design framework' for the town. They will hold a period of public consultation before getting their final ideas on paper by September.

The consultants want developers interested in the town to hold back, so their plans fit with the overall vision.

They are in contact with developer Foinavon, which already has permission to develop the former Ushers brewery site.

Jeff Bishop, one of the consultants working on the Vision project, said: "Hopefully there will be no conflict, and we don't want to hold developers up, but from the point of view of other investors, Trowbridge will look more attractive if we are all working together."

The consultants met representatives from various Trowbridge groups, on Wednesday night, to come up with concepts that could work in the town. Mr Bishop said: "Many things came to light in the meeting, with two main themes put forward.

"One was the environmental aspect, people want to make more of the river in the town, they also want to restore some of the old town, and recover a feeling of centre in Trowbridge."

But the consultants have a tight time scale to work to, with detailed plans required by West Wiltshire District Council by September.

Mr Bishop said: "We have to think hard about the locale of Trowbridge. We have worked with some bigger towns in the past and you cannot just plant the same ideas in a smaller town.

"Many of the shops and businesses are run by local people and we need to protect those, and simply importing big chain retail companies is not the solution for a place like this."

The consultancy work is being paid for from £250,000 set aside by West Wiltshire District Council and £395,000 from the South West Regional Develop-ment Agency.

RDA head of operations for Wiltshire, Philip Watkins, said he was confident they could meet the deadline and the people of Trowbridge will soon see the results. He said: "When investors see all the people with power, uniting to get a joint vision of what they want for a town, that will encourage them to invest."

Consultants have until the West Wilts Show in July to put together their ideas for public consultation at the show. They then have until September to prepare a full report, including an overall framework for the 60 acres of the town centre.