ARTISTS at Chippenham's Citadel Gallery will have their work put on show in the foyer and caf at the new district council offices, until other premises can be found.

The executive committee of North Wiltshire District Council decided on Thursday to close the gallery when its current programme finishes on August 31.

The tourist information centre, which is also housed in the Bath Road building, is due to move to the renovated Yelde Hall in September.

The artwork will be put up at the new Monkton Park offices, and the council wants businesses interested in exhibiting the work to get in contact.

Coun Doreen Darby said the popular exhibition gallery in Bath Road had come on in leaps and bounds over the past two years, and it was important to continue to look for other venues.

She said she would contact Chippenham Town Council and Wiltshire County Council about using public buildings in the town for display.

Coun June Wood said she would do the same.

Coun Philip Allnatt said the arts are a vital part of town's social fabric that must be maintained.

He said the current building was inadequate in size anyway for the number of visitors the Citadel attracts and suggested the museum and heritage centre was one option to house the gallery.

Coun Sam Wheeler said he thought it was an excellent idea that the artwork be displayed in the council offices but that efforts should, nonetheless, be made to find alternative venues.

Coun Ruth Coleman said she was disappointed by the adverse comments about the closure of the gallery that have been made to the Gazette.

"I think it would be a good idea to invite people who have been keen to put their comments to the press to put forward their ideas on where it could go," she added.