VILLAGERS who do not want to lose a building that was a popular pub for nearly 90 years are signing petitions in the hope of saving it.

But architect Christopher Moore, who has designed a development scheme to replace it, says the objectors have started their campaign without having any idea of what the new project will look like.

The Wroughton, formerly the Ely Inn, is expected to make way for more than 50 flats in the village High Street. The site is next to former racing stable Fairwater House, which is a listed building.

"It is a pity that the organisers of the petition have not chosen to contact us at all to get the facts concerning the scheme," said Mr Moore of Nigel Clark Architects whose offices are also in Wroughton High Street.

He and his family live at Spencers Farm, a beautifully-restored 18th century building opposite the former pub.

"We will be trying to secure the best design possible for the village.

"After all, I have to look at the outcome every day. Most people in Wroughton do not!"

Mr Moore was commissioned to design the flats scheme for Wanborough-based developers Paintyard.

He said there would now be discussions with Swindon borough planning department about whether the benefits of demolishing The Wroughton outweighed the benefits of keeping it.

The pub closed without warning earlier this year and is now boarded up and empty.

Petitions will be circulating at the village carnival which takes place tomorrow on the Weir Field recreation ground and carnival organisers Tim Benson and Sue Carter are expecting hundreds of people to sign.

"A lot of people have signed already, in spite of the fact that so far we've had time to get the petitions in only a few shops," said Mrs Carter who owns a hairdressing salon in The Pitchens. "Nobody who has come into my salon has been unwilling to sign, and from talking to people it's obvious that a huge number of them don't want to see The Wroughton demolished.

"But the issue is wider than that.

"There are already plans to build 60 houses on land at the back the High Street. So how much more development is there likely to be here?

"It's already murder trying to get down the High Street because of the volume of traffic.

"And what about our health centre, our schools and all the other services which will have to cope?"

Objectors to the plan are expected to attend Wroughton parish council's planning meeting on Wednesday at which the development bid will be discussed. They can also write to council write to Nigel Clark Architects at 23 High Street, Wroughton SN4 9JX.