PLANS to develop the Cocklebury Road site in Chippenham has stirred up an angry response from farmers.

Premier Livestock Auctions will lose its lease for a market at the site at the end of the year to make room for the new Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office.

Market officials say they would have no choice but to move from the town and cite Cribbs Causeway as a possible alternative. But north Wiltshire farmers and hauliers fear the extra distance they would have to travel would be too much for some traders who may use the market in Frome instead.

Farmer Neil Maidment said: "I would be horrified by this and so would most of my neighbouring farmers. Many have been to the Cribbs Causeway site and it is very difficult to get to unless you travel down the motorway.

"I cannot imagine many would wish to travel down the motorway with a Land Rover and trailer, with cattle, for safety reasons."

Mr Maidment said the Chippenham livestock market had been very successful since it reopened after foot-and-mouth 18 months ago.

Peter Kingwill, director of Premier Livestock Auctions, said he would try to keep the market in Chippenham for as long as possible.

"We just don't know what will happen. It's not certain we will stay it depends on what's going on with the Record Office." Philip Abbatt, chairman of Wiltshire National Farmers Union, said: "The message at the moment is it's business as usual at Chippenham. Looking long term, the market will move from Chippenham but there's no knowing when that might be. In the event of it moving, farmers will be disappointed."

The Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office is just part of the new development for Cocklebury Road.

Consultants Donaldsons have drawn up a second plan to map out the future of the Cocklebury Road area to the north and south of the railway line.

Land has been allocated for retail, leisure and residential use.

Bob Marshall, chief executive of North Wiltshire District Council said: "North Wiltshire District Council has worked with the livestock operators to extend the lease on the Cocklebury site on several occasions, allowing the livestock market to continue in Chippenham."