THE misguided aims of Wiltshire County Council and others to transfer the record office etc to the Devizes Wharf site is undoubtedly the major factor behind the cancellation of the whole Northgate/Wharfside development proposed by Heritage Commercial Properties.

Of the several alternative sites under consideration, Devizes is the least suitable.

Trowbridge remains by far the best location because of its good communications and proximity to most of the county's administrative centres.

The transfer of staff from Trowbridge to Devizes would not be welcomed by the majority of employees.

The various supporters of the move do not seem to appreciate that the users of the record office would hardly benefit the town as they would spend their time undertaking research.

Most would come bringing their own sandwiches or would patronise the cafe forming part of the planned complex.

Also, because of the lack of adequate bus and train services visitors' cars, and those of staff would add appreciably to the town's already unsatisfactory traffic and parking problems.

Compare this with the contribution to the prosperity of the town that would me made by the occupants of a residential development on the same site.

In conclusion, it is now even more obvious than ever that even the possibility of the transfer of the record office to the Wharf is already causing a major blight on the development of Devizes.

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