Following on from your recent report about the open consultation at the Town Hall, ‘No second chance if Range’s bid thrown out, says director’, I would like to raise my concern as to what I perceive to be a lack of transparency and impartial reporting concerning The Range’s proposals for its distribution centre.

A quick look through previous reports in local newspapers, as well as The Range’s own promotional literature, all highlight the retail aspect of this application but neglect to devote similar coverage to what is the major purpose of this construction.

Readers commenting on reports in your newspaper, along with posts on social media sites supporting “Yes to The Range Chippenham”, provide further evidence that they do not fully understand what is proposed, demonstrated by the focus purely on the shopping benefit.

This misapprehension is aided by The Range literature, which understandably has a vested interest in playing down the development but I am concerned that a local area newspaper is not offering a balanced and impartial overview.

A headline such as ‘No second chance’ is straightforward bullying and belittles the valid objections of those against this planning application even if you are merely repeating a sensationalist quote.

I would ask that you inform the public of the enormous scale of this proposed distribution centre, which will be equivalent to the colossal Morrisons site by the M5 at Bridgwater, by printing the design plans which can be seen on the Wiltshire Council planning portal (http://services.wiltshire.gov.uk/UniDoc/Document/Search/DSA,846352).

This clearly shows the main structures which would stretch the entire length of the western A350 boundary between Morrisons supermarket and Bumpers Farm.

A development on this scale will create the largest environmental change to Chippenham, the surrounding countryside and the South West, which will have a life-changing affect on everyone currently living here as well as future generations and should be very carefully, truthfully and transparently considered before any decision is made.

Andrew Rait, Chippenham.