ANGRY residents have campaigned outside Hill's Waste site in Compton Bassett against controversial plans to build a household recycling centre.

A group of more than 30 placard-waving residents gathered at the entrance to the site last Thursday evening to voice their objections.

No-one from Hills was present, but the residents made certain they got across their message with banners and placards voicing concerns about increased traffic and smell.

The waste firm wants to introduce the household recycling centre, extend composting facilities and make a small extension to the top of the site.

The applications were due to be discussed at a meeting of the county council's regulatory committee at county hall in Trowbridge yesterday.

On Monday, a county council team, as well as members of surrounding parish and town councils, visited the site, and spoke to Hills.

Joanna Heselwood, of Calne Friends of the Earth, was at last week's demonstration, and said it was an orderly protest.

"It was very civilised, but there were some people who are really quite upset about the proposals," said Mrs Heselwood, who also represents Calne Town Council.

"A lot of people feel their life is already very miserable because of flies, noise and smell there."

Ann Henshaw, of the Council for the Protection of Rural England, was also at Thursday's demonstration.

She said the CPRE's chief concern was over increased traffic. While it applauded the idea of household recycling centres, it felt Compton Bassett was the wrong place.

Mrs Henshaw suggested Viridor's site at Sand's Farm would be a better location.

"The demonstration was good and it is going to keep it in people's minds, which is really the issue," said Mrs Henshaw, who lives near Yatesbury, two miles from the site.

She said that, should Compton Bassett be chosen, a significant amount of traffic would increase through the centre of Calne, and consequently, through the village.

Belinda Boyd, of the Friends of Compton and Surrounds, said there were discrepancies in the amount of traffic forecast by Hills, and that worked out by the residents, which needed more investigation by the county council before permission is granted.

She said more than 70 people were at the demonstration which was organised at two days' notice, and attracted villagers from Hilmarton, Yatesbury, Cherhill, and Compton Bassett, as well as Quemerford, and elsewhere in Calne.

"We hope we have got our message across more clearly, and in a strong voice, for councillors to reconsider this application," she added.

Coun Peter Barnett, 61, of Compton Bassett Parish Council, has lived in the village since 1945.

He did not attend Thursday's demonstration, but said the council was concerned about increased traffic.

He said household recycling sites are a good idea, but said the county needed to investigate further if Compton Bassett was the right place. He said the parish council fended off an application for a household recycling centre, on the same site, 12 years ago.

Two weeks ago, Hills was told to clean up at the Compton Bassett site after an investigation revealed a fly infestation.

Mike Webster, Hill's Waste management director, said: "If people want to make their feelings known then that is up to them and we have no problem with that."

However, he said some people had lost sight of why the applications was made in the first place.

"The reason we put in an application for an HRC is down to local concern about the lack of recycling facilities," he said.

"The local people have asked us to build an HRC, that is what local people wanted and we have applied for.

"Now there seems to be other people saying they do not want this."