Devizes town councillors are angry that NHS Wiltshire has sold off land earmarked to help ease parking in the town.

Councillors on the town council’s planning committee on Tuesday were asked to comment on the application to develop the former family clinic site in New Park Street for a mixed retail and residential development.

Although it was generally agreed the new scheme would get rid of an eyesore and improve the look of the street, Coun Ray Parsons was annoyed that the NHS had not acknowledged the Devizes town centre plan.

He said: “I want to object to this grossly inappropriate use of a valuable town centre site. The town centre plan includes the expanding of the visitors’ car park and the relocation of coach parking.

“It beggars belief that long-term town planning can be derailed by a government-owned organisation.”

Coun Paula Winchcombe sympathised with Coun Parsons’ sentiment but said that the land had been sold to a private company and it was not an NHS application.

Coun Margaret Taylor said: “I agree with Coun Parsons. I always expected the land would be sold to Wiltshire Council to achieve all the things he mentioned. Once the site is sold to a private firm there is not much we can do.”

Councillors voted not to object to the proposals, with only Coun Parsons against.