DETAILS of the £75m proposed ring road around the East of Chippenham was discussed at the top table at Wiltshire Council this week as cabinet members responded to questions from the public.

Calne parish councillors were shocked they were not consulted throughout the process and a local Chippenham man questioned why the council was backing a large road scheme.

Adrian Templedown added: "Wiltshire Council declared a climate emergency in May and in September published plans for £75m of construction that will destroy more and build homes on existing countryside, it is incompatible with the declaration of a climate emergency."

Cllr Whitehead defended the bid and said the plans were ambitious. He said: “I want to do something that other councils are not doing. We could create a community where the school run requires no cars because of cycle routes and walkways.”

Calne woman Anne Henshaw said: "Why has this come to cabinet after the application was submitted? Doing it this way you may have engendered a wave of mistrust. I think certain elements would have rather see a draft proposal come forward." A decision on the bid will be made by December.