THE Marlborough aggregates firm behind a controversial bid to expand its site at Wroughton airfield has submitted new plans.

Earthline Ltd wants to grow its operations from a hangar to include an office building, parking for 50 lorries, seven vans and 80 staff cars. Now the company has sent a number of documents to planners in order to show the hangar has been used for storage and depot purposes for more than 10 years, meaning it cannot be deemed to be without consent.

The proposed expansion is opposed by people living in nearby Broad Hinton and Uffcott who fear that hundreds of vehicle movements will result on narrow roads leading from their villages to the site, particularly by large trucks.

Sue Quick who lives in Broad Hinton, said: “We can assume that Earthline’s existing development on Wroughton airfield will only continue to grow in what is a lawfully-protected Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

“The minor single track road and subsequent by-way, leading to the site, is completely unsuitable to accommodate the large increase in HGV vehicles.

“This is unsafe and dangerous to inhabitants, walkers, riders, children, pedestrians and other vehicles using that road, leading through Uffcott and up on to the Ridgeway. The area is completely unsuitable to this size of unsightly development and high-traffic use.”

In April, Uffcott residents covered the byway with mud as a protest against the use of their narrow road by Earthline’s trucks.

At the time, director Matthew Coplestone, said the company wanted to be “a good neighbour” and added: “I think these people have jumped the gun. The planning application is in and we will await the outcome of that.”

Wiltshire Council’s highways officers have objected to the scheme, on the grounds of potential use of the byway, which it controls, but Swindon Council will rule on the application. No date has been set for a decision.