Hullavington Airfield is 'ideally located' to be a new town which would relieve the pressures on areas around Chippenham and Malmesbury say the Liberal Democrats.

The former RAF airfield, between Stanton St Quinton and Hullavington, is one of 12 sites being sold off by the MOD.

The Lib Dems local parliamentary spokesman Dr Brian Mathew, who stood for North Wiltshire in the last general election, has condemned moves to restrict housing development at the airfield.

He said: "North Wiltshire market towns like Royal Wootton Bassett, Chippenham and Malmesbury are struggling under the pressure of unsustainable housing development.

"These towns' social and physical infrastructure simply can't cope.

"Schools, doctors' and dentists' surgeries are full. Roads are clogged and car parks are approaching bursting point.

"Appropriate development at Hullavington Airfield could help all this."

Dr Mathew believes the location offers an ideal opportunity for a properly planned and equipped new town with schools, shops, affordable housing for local people and centres of employment and leisure.

"Of course people need new houses, but our local market towns need to have the huge development pressures taken away if they are to maintain their character and quality of life for residents," he added.

"Hullavington Airfield is also almost ideally located for a new town.

"It's close to junction 17 of the M4 and even has an existing railway siding on the London main line. This has the potential for a new railway station for the area."

Two years ago Dr Mathew explored the potential for a new town at the airfield at Hullavington, while casting doubt on the appropriateness of new housing on the former RAF base at Colerne due to poor access, with Mr. Cunningham, Wiltshire Council's Associate Director of Economic Development and Planning Services.

"Such a move would provide Mr. Cunningham and his team with an opportunity to plan a bold, new and sustainable future for this part of Wiltshire. This is windfall that must not be wasted and should be urgently included in Wiltshire Council’s housing strategy.

James Gray MP has previously attempted to dispel fears of a large housing development following the MoD sell-off of Hullavington Airfield.

He believes a new business park is more likely to develop on the site.