PLANS for a new housing estate in Warminster have been scuppered by the industrial noise and smells from a nearby food-processing factory.

Building firm Sydenhams wants to move to Crusader Park on the outskirts of the town and sell present site in Fairfield Road for housing.

Warminster town and district councillor Andrew Davis questioned any reasons for refusing the plans, claiming the development would enhance the area.

However, Nigel Britton, West Wiltshire District Council's area development control officer, said: "It's not good planning to build houses near a noisy, 24-hour factory."

Councillor John Syme was also worried about the factory's effect on people's health.

He said: "The stench coming from Lyons Seafood can be overpowering and I would not like to live in a house near there. I would suggest that the cost of preventing the smell is more than they would be prepared to spend."

Crusader Park is a growing industrial estate on the edge of town, but Cllr Syme said they could not keep on pushing businesses out there.

Cllr Marion Clegg warned that building houses next to factories was asking for trouble.

She said: "People that move in usually make such a fuss that towns lose businesses altogether. If you want to lose businesses, then fine, put houses next door."

Sydenhams has the support of the town council and highway authority as well as conservation and civic groups.

But a major stumbling block was presented by the district council's environmental health officer, who said: "I have serious concerns about the proposed site being developed for housing in view of the close proximity of both the Lyons Seafood factory and also the railway line."

Government guidance suggests that areas subject to high levels of noise, especially through the night, would not normally be permitted.

West Wiltshire district councillors agreed and refused the plan at a southern area committee meeting last week.