A residents’ protest group in Bradford on Avon has accused the town council of being “hellbent” on railroading through plans for a new community pavilion.

The town council has submitted a pre-planning application to Wiltshire Council to build the new two-storey pavilion at the top end of the Culver Close playing field closer to the B3109 Frome Road.

The council says it can be used by the town’s local community and sports clubs, including cricket, football and tennis.

But Niall Machin, a member of the 25-strong Friends of Culver Close group, says the council has ignored local concerns about the new pavilion being built in greenspace in the middle of the playing field, rather than redeveloping the existing pavilion footprint.

They also say it is ignoring transport, traffic and parking problems at the highly dangerous Frome Road roundabout at the top of Pound Lane where numerous accidents occur each year.

In an email to Bradford on Avon mayor, Cllr Katie Vigar, Mr Machin says: “In early May, the Friends of Culver and other concerned local residents submitted questions to the town council about the proposed location of the new cricket pavilion.

“We have had no responses to our questions. We also attended the Town Development Committee on 10th May, chaired by BoA Cricket Team Captain Cllr Vittles and lodged our concerns: still no answers.

“The Council were due to report on the results of the April 2022 consultation at the 10th May meeting yet no report was presented and the matter glossed over.

“Despite the proposal being directly contrary to national Green Belt and AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) planning policy and contrary to the Council's own BoA Neighbourhood Plan policies, the Town Council seem hell-bent on railroading this proposal through planning and have sought Wiltshire Council pre-planning advice, having already waste around £20,000 of our money on designs for this white elephant, when redevelopment of the existing cricket pavilion footprint would be welcomed by all.

“As your residents, we are not being listened to or not having our questions answered. This is not local democracy - it appears to be pre-determination (under the Localism Act) based on inappropriate vested interests.”

A town council spokesman said: "Officers are carefully considering a large number of questions and concerns raised by residents regarding the Community Pavilion – full responses will be provided, as soon as possible.

"Additionally, the town council is planning further consultation on the proposed community pavilion.”