16239/1DEVIZES Guardians have joined forces with the Quakers Walk Preservation Group to oppose council officers' insistence in retaining development on the town's "green lung" in the local plan.

Kennet District Council is due to discuss today whether to keep a scheme to build 230 homes and a primary school on land to the east of Quakers Walk, an ancient footpath leading to Roundway village.

The Devizes Guardians are opposed to building on the land.

Their stance was supported by Government planning inspector Chris Frost who granted planning permission for up to 150 homes on the former Kverneland agricultural factory site in Folly Road.

Mr Frost suggested that Kennet look again at the need to build on green field land as opposed to redundant industrial land.

But council officer Ed White argues in a report to today's meeting of Kennet's planning policies executive committee that there is no need to review the local plan in light of the Kverneland decision.

Guardian councillor Jeff Ody says he will oppose the officers' recommendations today.