THE Wharf at Devizes was selected as the site for the proposed new county records office and heritage centre because of its high-profile among funding bodies who might contribute to costs.

Details of information given to a county committee which made the selection were made public for the first time yesterday. Devizes came bottom of the four options the others were Chippenham, Trowbridge and Swindon as far as public transport was concerned.

Its selection as a pilot in the Government's Market and Coastal Towns Initiative counted highly with councillors, as investment from the South West Regional Development Agency is almost guaranteed.

Chippenham cattle market in Cocklebury Road was the second choice because the land could be quickly available