The Range discount homeware store wants to build a 72,070 sq m storage and distribution centre and a 5,413 sq m retail unit west of the A350, on green fields in between Allington Farm Shop and Chippenham Golf Club.

Wiltshire Council said the application sparked one of the biggest in terms of responses it has ever seen, with close to 1,400 people commenting.

As consultation came to a close on February 5 the council had received 1,077 objections, 123 support and 196 other comments.

An online petition at change.org to bring The Range to Chippenham has been signed by 1,202 people, while a Rally Against The Range online petition has 1,533 names. The plan is expected to be discussed at a public meeting of the strategic planning committee, but as yet a date has not been set.

YES - in favour of The Range development

PETER HABKIRK, 64, of Royal Close, off Charter Road in Chippenham, is keen for the development to go ahead, as the soon to be retired builder wants more jobs in the town for younger people.

He says: "Over the past few months, I have enjoyed watching the debate unfold over the Range’s plans to build a store and distribution centre in Chippenham.

"The Range distribution centre will create 1000 jobs. I attended the exhibition last month and the information on display was very clear.

"They gave a clear comparison with their similar sized distribution centre in Doncaster that employs around 1,000 people.

"I believe it is very important to have jobs that will benefit a range of Chippenham residents: Those looking for work, those working in similar roles elseware and professionals.

"With Chippenham set to grow by a further 5,000 homes over the next decade, it will need a diverse selection of jobs for all skills.

"Without this Chippenham will just continue to be commuter town, with residents working miles away in London, Bristol, Swindon and Bath. Is it any wonder Chippenham town centre is dying when it cannot provide a range of jobs locally?

"In terms of the site, locating the distribution centre on the A350 makes perfect sense as it will allow delivery vehicles to access the M4 without having to enter Chippenham and its location means that employees can walk or cycle to work.

"In last week’s edition of the Gazette, Mr Clark in his letter entitled ‘we deserve this store’ quite rightly points out that the Range has a number of significant benefits and will allow Chippenham to progress.

"Yes the development is large, but so are the benefits the Range will bring to the town.

"Chippenham has to change if it is to recapture its pride. It must take every opportunity it can to welcome new investment and not to lose out as it has in the past."

NO  - against The Range development

Allington Action Group was set in August 2014 to provide a combined voice to oppose the applicationover concerns including traffic congestion, flooding and impact on the town centre.

Urging the planners to reject the application is the group’s coordinator, HOWARD HAM, who is 67 and lives in Allington, close to the proposed site. He says: 

"No planning application can be acceptable when it is almost universally-rejected by statutory consultees, including Wiltshire Council’s own landscape architect.

"That architect stated: 'The scale and monolithic mass of the proposed distribution warehouse building will interrupt, detract, obscure and dominate local views of countryside and townscape.'

"Although we are opposing this location, we support any sustainable development that brings permanent jobs to Chippenham, particularly targeting the unemployed.

"The developer states: '195 JSA claimants in Chippenham are in search of occupations expected to be created,' meaning the majority of workers would be bussed-in, undermining the Council’s commuting-reduction targets.

"We support enhancing our town centre by attracting a mix of different retailers and making it, once again, a destination of choice for peoples’ shopping and leisure activities. This cannot be achieved when a large out-of-town store, duplicating existing independent offers, sucks revenue and jobs away. Recognising the A350 as a primary strategic artery and a logical town boundary that prevents opening the floodgates to inappropriate development.

"Wiltshire’s head of sustainable transport states these proposals: '...would lead to chaotic traffic conditions, with additional congestion, excessive delays, and hazardous conditions at nearby roundabouts and the proposed site access, to the detriment of road user safety.'

"We support protecting the rural setting of the town, described by Chippenham 2020 in their vision statement as 'beautiful countryside'.

"English Heritage recommends permission 'should be refused' perceiving 'a harmful impact on the settings of the Conservation Area.'

"We agree with Chippenham Town Council, and surrounding parishes, that these jobs can equally be secured by placing the colossal distribution centre at Junction 17 of the M4. They are backed-up by the extraordinary response totalling 1,691 letters to the planning department, showing an overwhelming majority of 75 per cent against granting planning permission.

"Given the informed opinion saying no to this application it would be a courageous politician who votes to approve it."