Councillor Charles Vernon has defended his actions in holding a private meeting with a builder over a new supermarket for Malmesbury.

The town councillor said he is angry that notes documenting a meeting with builder and garden centre owner Andy Nurden on March 9 had been leaked.

He said the meeting, also involving councillors Bill Blake and Ray Sanderson, was held privately for the sake of staff at Malmesbury Garden Centre, site of the proposed store and commercial development.

The ten acres occupied by the garden centre and its environs has been designated in the town plan for industry.

Coun Vernon said the talks were held because rumours had been circulating for several months that a supermarket might be built on that site.

The meeting had been kept quiet because Mr Nurden had not told staff at the garden centre because the negotiations had been going on for longer than expected.

“For these reasons, and the fact his staff were not fully aware of what was going on, he didn’t for wish the details that we were discussing to be published,” said Coun Vernon.

He said that the talks were kept confidential at the request of Mr Nurden.

“It is annoying people who know better, or should know better, can’t keep things private,” he added.

Coun. Vernon said attempts are being made to find out who leaked the details.

Coun Ray Sanderson, chairman of the planning and environmental committee, said: “I’m absolutely fuming that details were leaked.”

He said the meeting was simply for information.

The name of the supermarket chain is not known.