ANGER is growing in Trowbridge over the lack of progress at the former Bowyers factory site, with troubled supermarket chain Morrisons only prepared to confirm that it still owns the land.

The future of the site has been up in the air ever since the Wiltshire Times discovered that the site had been listed for sale, despite the grocer informing developer Prorsus that it still expected to build earlier this year.

Work had already started on clearing the site of disused factory buildings at the end of 2014 in preparation for the £46m Innox Riverside development, which was to include an eight-screen Cineworld cinema, Morrisons store, six restaurants and a pub.

However, closing date for offers on the 4.30ha site, which was advertised on commercial property and planning consultants Rapleys, passed in July and Morrisons has confirmed it still owns it.

A spokesman for Morrisons, which reported an annual loss of £792m in March, told the Wiltshire Times: “There is no further update on this site at the moment.”

It is believed that the grocer was hoping for an offer in the region of £10m to cover the costs it has already spent on the demolition work, but no such offer was forthcoming.

The people of Trowbridge backed developer Prorsus when it was forced to fight to overturn Wiltshire Council’s decision to reject the plans in 2012, with hundreds of supporters marching through the town to protest the decision.

Both the council and Legal and General had argued that a new cinema was not necessary in Trowbridge, but following a hearing last year the planning inspectorate approved the scheme.

Wiltshire and Trowbridge councillor Graham Payne has now called on Morrisons to explain what it plans to do with the site, which he believes is one of the most important in the town.

“After the work that Angus Horner and Prorsus put into obtaining planning for this site, backed by the majority of residents in the town, it is heartbreaking to see Morrisons take such a negative attitude towards the site,” said Cllr Payne.

“It is arguably the most important development sites in Trowbridge and they either need to sell the site to a developer who can commence construction sooner or talk to the council about improving the viability of the scheme.

“There are a number of uses being suggested by young people including, a bowling alley, extra sporting facilities and even a key anchor store like Debenhams or M&S clothing.

“The many supporters of the Innox Riverside development feel let down by Morrisons and their lack of communication, leaving this festering sore in the town. It is near the railway, in the town centre with parking, so there is no reason it should be left abandoned.”