TWO councils are set for a showdown next week when the planning inquiry into a controversial park and ride scheme goes ahead.

Swindon Borough Council is at loggerheads with North Wiltshire District Council after it refused permission for the park and ride scheme at Spittleborough Farm, outside Wootton Bassett near junction 16 of the M4.

The borough council appealed against the decision and a planning inquiry is set to open at 10am on Tuesday at the Wootton Bassett Rugby Club in Stoneover Lane. It is expected to last eight days

Among those giving evidents will be the Swindon Chamber of Commerce, which says businesses will suffer if the park and ride does not go ahead.

Keith Newton, the chamber policy advisor, said: "Swindon badly needs to put in place a range of measures to deal with increasing traffic congestion.

"Junction 16 presents particularly severe problems in terms of traffic congestion and is the right choice for Swindon's second scheme.

"Swindon's businesses already face acute recruitment and retention problems because of the low unemployment figures. Many employers are increasingly dependent upon commuters many of whom are travelling from further afield to access Swindon at junction 16.

"We are not convinced that North Wiltshire District Council's opposition to the junction 16 scheme is truly representative of those who live in North Wiltshire and are economically dependent upon Swindon. Although we intend to support Swindon Borough Council's appeal, we also believe that it needs to work more closely with the business community to develop greater flexibility for park and ride schemes."

Swindon council wants to go ahead with the £2 million project as one of six park and ride schemes in its £37 million local transport plan.

The district council objects to the scheme as it feels it is an inappropriate development in a rural buffer zone and will create a traffic hazard at junction 16.

A Wiltshire County Council survey showed only four per cent of drivers within a five mile radius of the site would regularly use it.