VILLAGERS across Manton have breathed a great sigh of relief after a deeply unpopular application to turn a disused grain store into a recycling depot and waste transfer station was rejected.

Opposition to Skip-Rite Limited's proposal to turn Manton Weir Barn, in Manton Drove, into a recycling plant was led by the Manton Residents Association, who said the development would disturb wildlife, cause traffic problems and damage their roads.

And on Monday it appeared that their voices, coupled with letters of objection from four local councils and nearly 100 letters of opposition from residents, had been heard as Wiltshire Council dismissed the application, saying it was in an area of outstanding natural beauty, it had highway safety issues and that it would be harmful to local wildlife.

Emma Tallini, a member of the Manton Residents Association, said that common sense had prevailed as the trucks that would be needed for the centre would ruin the single track road when lorries come down there and could cause congestion in the village.

"We are absolutely thrilled that this has been rejected. I am pleasantly surprised as we did not expect to hear back until May. The community came together to object to this and it has paid dividends," said the 38-year-old from School Lane.

"There was a lot of anger from villagers about this. Manton Drove is a tiny single track road with a difficult access onto the Marlborough to Pewsey Road. It looked like 30 lorries a day were going to be using that road for builders waste and the application said that 100 tonnes a week of household waste would be sent there. It is hard enough to get two cars down there let alone lorries and then they could come through Manton too.

"This is in an area of outstanding natural beauty with an abundance of diverse wildlife in the area. They had been there for months now and the verges have already been damaged.

"They went about this without much transparency. They did not tell Marlborough Town Council about this as they said it is not in the town. I would not be surprised if they appeal it but hopefully this puts the matter to bed."

Marlborough Town Council and the parish councils of Preshute, Savernake and Fyfield and West Overton were all against the application.

Fellow Manton resident association member Dawn Twelftree, High Street, added: "We are very relieved but also delighted that this has been turned down. Hopefully our voices helped in getting this rejected. The village was united in their rejection of this."

Wiltshire Council said that if more building work continued from the company then they would take action against them, but that no action will be taken against the firm for beginning to sort waste at the site before planning permission was granted.