CHIPPENHAM’S MP Michelle Donelan has described The Range’s move to Avonmouth in Bristol as a missed opportunity for the town but agreed the proposed site was not right.

The Range’s proposed distribution centre and shop on land to the west of the A350 near Allington has split opinion in the town but the home and gardenware store announced last week it’ll be moving to Bristol instead.

Miss Donelan said: “I think there was a big consensus in the town that it was the wrong site although there was a lot of positivity about the jobs which I strongly agree with.

“It is a missed opportunity for the town in terms of the jobs but it wasn’t the right site for Chippenham and that was the only one that was found that was suitable for The Range themselves and that they were prepared to buy.”

Chippenham Town Council have also clarified their position on The Range despite planning responsibility lying with Wiltshire Council.

A spokesman said: “The town council is consulted and is able to comment on planning applications but does not make the final decision.

“The town council did comment at length on this application in January 2015.”

The town council has also added a statement from Coun Peter Hutton, chairman of the planning, environment and transport committee, speaking on behalf of the committee through their Facebook page.

He said: "This is obviously disappointing news that the Range has now decided upon Bristol rather than Chippenham for its distribution centre.

"The town council had previously discussed this application at a planning meeting last year and made a comprehensive response to Wiltshire Council, the local planning authority.

“The town council is a planning consultee, we are not the decision makers that many local residents seem to have thought we are.

"The town council actively encourages developers and planning agents to attend its meetings to brief not only elected councillors but many of the local residents who attend our three-weekly meetings, so that any future proposals can be discussed and any local issues can be raised at an early stage.

"We are currently working on a pre-planning protocol for significant developments to encourage developers to engage and communicate with the local community so that any concerns can be looked at and we can work towards a positive outcome for all parties."