SUPERMARKET giant Sainsbury's will hand over £60,000 to revitalise a neglected area of Melksham town centre.

All the money will be spent on improving traffic and pedestrian routes in Bank Street marking a victory for town hairdresser and campaigner Michael Clarke.

Mr Clarke, 56, who took his 800-name petition to repair a dangerous pavement in Bank Street to County Hall, said the money would transform the town.

However town councillors said they have been kept in the dark about the Sainsbury's cash injection a condition tied in with planning approval for a 625sq- metre extension to its Melksham branch.

Mr Clarke, who runs Clarkies Salon, said: "It is great news. I had no idea this money was available.

"The pavements are lethal a woman was crushed in an accident in Bank Street.

"No-one seemed to be interested in this end of town and now there is all this money to spend."

Melksham mayor Vic Oakman said he didn't know Sainsbury's was offering money as part of a deal to secure planning approval for a major extension project.

"It was a complete surprise to us when we heard last week at a meeting," he said.

"We have not heard anything about it which I think is bad as we are the town council."

Cllr Sarah Cardy said there should be more consultation on the use of money donated by developers.

She said: "When there are development bonuses we should be consulted. There was talk of an access to Sainsbury's passing round the back of The Bear.

"Bank Street has been an issue so it is good money will be going towards the railings."

Meanwhile, delays on a town centre consultation process mean Melksham will miss out on up to £50,000 in Government cash.

Under the 2002/03 local transport plan, £185,000 was allocated for schemes in Melksham but only £130,000 has been spent before this month's deadline.

The Forest Road traffic calming project and consultations on town centre improvements have swallowed up the cash.

Proposed improvements to Melksham market place will be delayed for up to two years because of the hitch.