The Range planning application, which was one of Chippenham's most controversial ever schemes, is back up for discussion by Wiltshire Council next week.

In January it was announced The Range had ended its interest in constructing a distribution centre and retail outlet in Chippenham.

The company announced instead it had done a deal to purchase a 55 acre site at Centre Park, near the M49 in Avonmouth, Bristol.

But today it was revealed that the plan is likely to be discussed at Wiltshire Council's strategic planning committee on September 14.

Committee chairman Alan Davis said: "The agenda is not published until tomorrow but I was told by the clerk there is likely to be five items on the agenda and one of those is expected to the The Range."

But he said until the agenda was finalised he could not comment further.

The Range storage and distribution centre, service yards and retail unit for the discount furniture store was proposed on 18.6 hectares of land north of the A350 West Cepen Way.

Today one of the protesters to the plan said: "This seems like a very back door method for it to be introduced. It smacks of people wanting to get it debated without many people knowing. It is very quick for it to come to a committee."

Chippenham people were originally split over the scheme with some welcoming the jobs the project would bring while others unhappy about the position of the giant warehouse.

A Wiltshire Council spokesman said: “It is a routine part of the process that a planning application such as this will be heard at strategic planning committee,  with all representation received during the consultation period being considered as part of the decision making process.”