WOOTTON Bassett residents will hear next week what is to happen to the former St Ivel site, after plans are presented to the town council.

The site has been empty since St Ivel stopped pro-duction in February and the 200 employees working at the site lost their jobs.

St Ivel's agent, King Sturge, has drawn up a plan for a new use for the site.

Partner Max Cross said: "The site is going to be a mixture of residential and business properties, so there will be some new businesses for the town.

"We have been working very closely with the town council to make sure we have taken everyone's views on board.

"The loss of the St Ivel plant obviously had a big impact on a town the size of Wootton Bassett, so we hope the new business space will provide valuable jobs for the town.

"There will also be some houses right in the town centre."

Wootton Bassett town councillors will be the first to see the plans at a special meeting next week, and if they approve the plans, they will be passed to North Wiltshire District Council for final planning approval.

Mr Cross said: "We are not obliged to show the town council first, but we realise how important the site is to the town, so we wanted to make sure the council was as involved as possible.

"We will also be liaising with residents who live close to the site."

Since the closure of the factory there have been numerous suggestions for its use from Wootton Bassett residents, including a community centre, theme pub, and loft-style apartments.

But now it looks likely that most of the St Ivel buildings will be bulldozed to make way for more modern office and housing space.

Town clerk Jonathon Bourne said: "Seeing this plan will be a bit of a moment of truth for the town, as St Ivel was so important to it.

"With modern office and light industry space it seems we could employ at least 200 people and still have room for some housing"

Wootton Bassett Mayor Marion Sweet said: "It is so important that Wootton Bassett competes with Swin-don as a separate town, and attracts different businesses on its own merit."