WOOTTON Bassett Town Council wants autonomy to deal with budgets and grants from North Wiltshire District and Wiltshire County Councils, ahead of a number of major issues facing the town over the next two years.

It has agreed to put forward the idea of setting up a panel of councillors to look at economic development and employment issues, including highways, planning, heritage, culture and tourism.

The idea was proposed by Coun Peter Doyle, who also represents the town on the district council. "This council should take the lead in our area and seek full delegation of appropriate budgets from North Wiltshire District and Wiltshire County Councils," said Coun Doyle.

He said a panel needed to be set up to face a succession of issues over the next two years. "These include the economic and employment threat hanging over RAF Lyneham from the current MoD airfield review," he said.

Coun Doyle said other issues included a major new development at Dunnington Farm, the possibility of a bypass around Wootton Bassett and the reopening of the railway station.