TWO councils will confront each other in a planning inquiry in August to decide if a controversial park and ride facility will be built in Wootton Bassett.

Swindon Council will argue that the large car park near junction 16 of the M4 would help solve problems with congestion.

But North Wiltshire District Council will oppose the plans and call for alternative solutions to be looked at, such as the reopening of Wootton Bassett railway station.

Members of Wiltshire County Council were told that the borough had refused to delay the planning inquiry into the park and ride at Spittleborough Farm.

Mollie Groom (Con Wootton Bassett North) said peoples views had changed since an original 1990 consultation: Local people do object to Swindon Council compulsorily purchasing land in North Wiltshire and regard it as a Trojan Horse attempt to expand into Wootton Bassett.

They point to the ridiculous principle of creating more traffic on junction 16, which is already working to capacity. Two town and eight parish councils have protested against this proposed site.

Members of the county councils environment and transport committee were told by environmental services director Richard Lander: I am told that the borough council is not prepared to put this inquiry into abeyance and will proceed to the appeal which is next month."

Ioan Rees, the head of transportation services at the borough council, said: We believe that there is an awful lot of support for the park and ride site and this will be shown by the amount of people who will use it."