VILLAGERS who dumped mud on a country lane in protest at plans to expand and earth-moving and quarrying operations at Wroughton airfield are celebrating – for now.

Earthline sparked outrage in the villages of Uffcott and Broad Hinton when it lodged applications to expand its work at its base south of Swindon.

The applications were to retain an office building it had already built without prior planning permission and to allow parking for 50 lorries, seven light vans and for the cars of up to 80 staff. All were under construction when the application was made in February.

Neighbours said that was far too much traffic for a small road and staged a protest during the height of lockdown in April.

The earthmoving, recycling and quarrying company’s applications to retain the facilities it has put up have now been withdrawn – but director Matthew Coplestone said that wasn’t the end of plans to expand operations at the airfield.

He said: “Seeing the response to our proposals we are going to review our plans and what we are going to do with the site, but we are still looking to progress with our plans.

“We want to come up with a new strong proposal for using the site. We own it and we won’t be leaving. We will remain there and intend to make it a success.”

Mr Coplestone has previously emphasised the company wants to work with people living nearby and be a good and responsible neighbour.

But people living in Uffcott and Broad Hinton wrote scores of letters in objection and covered the narrow byway with dumped mud to demonstrate how dangerous it is – in their view – to have up to 50 lorries loaded with quarried earth and other material use it every day.

Howard Witt is a member of Broad Hinton and Winterbourne Bassett Parish Council and has been involved in opposition to the plans.

He said: “This is a start, but we know this hasn’t gone away.”

Mr Witt said of Earthline constructing its office and extensions before asking for permission: “I hope Swindon Borough Council see this for what it is, and don’t give retrospective permission.

“Earthline’s plans are completely unsuitable for this area.”

Wiltshire Council’s highways officers have objected to the scheme, on the grounds of potential use of the byway, which it controls, but the decision on the airfield lies with Swindon Council.

It could, if permission is not granted, demand Earthline pulls down its offices and removes all its new construction.