CIVIC leaders in Trowbridge have vowed to continue the fight to keep key public services in the county town.

Trowbridge received a double blow with news last week that the town's

magistrates court is to close and the decision by Wiltshire County Council to move the Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office to Devizes.

The decisions have angered civic leaders who feel Trowbridge's status as the county town is being undermined.

Town councillor Angela Milroy, who has been spearheading the campaign to keep the record office in Trowbridge, said: "It's a double whammy for Trowbridge.

"Our fight goes on. If we felt we had been dealt with fairly that would be it. This is not party political, we have the backing of our MP.

"We can only see doom and gloom for Trowbridge when everyone should be promoting the town and supporting it to make it a town worthy of its status."

The campaigners will be sending a report of their concerns to the Heritage Lottery Fund, which is being asked to part-fund the proposed project at Devizes' wharfside.

The alternatives considered by councillors were to build a new record office in Trowbridge, or at the Cattle Market site in Chippenham (the present tenant's lease expires in December 2002), or at Churchward, a former railworks in Swindon.

Mayor Jeff Osborn said: "We have lost a lot in the last week. There is a lot to think about. We are prepared to fight for what Trowbridge deserves."

The decision of where to site the record office is due before Swindon Borough Council, which is a partner in the project, later this month.

The Wharfside Project Board will then complete a second bid for funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, due to be submitted early next year.