MALMESBURY Town Council has objected to a plan to build 15 houses on the former Suffolk Arms pub site just weeks after supporting a similar proposal from the same developers for 19 houses.

At a meeting of the town council held last month, the planning committee supported plans from Crest Nicholson for 19 two and two-and-a-half storey buildings and a play park on the site at Tetbury Hill.

A split vote among councillors meant the decision fell to the casting vote of deputy mayor and planning chairman Patrick Goldstone, who supported the plans on the recommendation of North Wiltshire District Council officers.

But plans for 15 houses which were to be discussed at the same meeting were overlooked by the committee, who believed they were the same application. Discussions on the undecided 15-house plan had to be adjourned to a planning meeting held at the town hall on Tuesday night.

This time, the planning committee heard the views of 20 householders who said they objected to the height and density of the proposed housing. Although the height of the homes was the same as in the other plan, the committee voted unanimously to reject it.

Malmesbury Rugby Club made an appeal at the meeting for around £120,000 from the developers to build a new clubhouse for the both the cricket and rugby clubs. Spokesman Adam Twidell said: "We think if the plan does go ahead that Malmesbury should get something out of it."