AN old garage and showroom in the centre of Trowbridge that has stood empty for more than a decade will remain that way after an application to turn it into an MoT centre was withdrawn.

URA Ventures Ltd put forward a plan to Wiltshire Council to convert the old buildings into a depot for the storage, sales and fixing of motor parts, near the town bridge, off of Wicker Hill.

The proposal, put forward to the authority in late March, sought to demolish the current dilapidated buildings and sales office for the new centre.

However, URA Ventures Ltd has withdrawn the application because of a breakdown in negotiations with site owner Kenning Motor Group.

Cllr Peter Fuller said: “This is a real shame because we were very optimistic about this application.

“It has been empty for a long time and it still looks a bit of a mess. That is why the town council welcomed this plan.”