An artist's impression reveals how the new Castle Place development will lookANTI-SUICIDE measures are to be incorporated in a newly designed car park and shopping centre. The multi-storey car park in Trowbridge is notorious for attracting those who want to end their lives but it is hoped a new development could make it safer.

West Wiltshire District Council planning officer Peter Westbury, speaking at a meeting of the planning committee on Thursday, said: "There is a problem with people committing suicide so there is a recommended condition that the barriers be raised."

To improve general security in the car park, now seen by many people as a no go area at nght, the developer will have to install security measures to the satisfaction of the council, including CCTV cameras.

Councillors voted to approve the application by Thyian Investments Ltd to demolish and replace the car park while also revamping the Castle Place shopping centre, despite some misgivings about the design.

Cllr John Knight said: "It looks like a funnel-less ocean liner. I can understand concerns about the detail."

The developer plans to move the indoor market place currently housed at Castle Place to the site now occupied by a leisure centre.

This will be replaced by shops, with a five deck car park above a further retail unit replacing the existing multi-storey. The path between the centre and the park will be refurbished, providing a colonnade walkway, which will involve the loss of a small amount of parkland.

The leisure facilities lost at Castle Place will be replaced by new facilities at St Stephen's Place, opposite the car park, also being redeveloped by Jersey-based Thyian.

One of the main issues raised over the development is that of temporary parking provision while the multi-storey is being demolished and rebuilt.

Cllr Tom James said: "This is an important site in the future of Trowbridge and it is going to mean a tremendous amount of upheaval for residents, visitors and shop owners. But unless we want to stay as we are and stagnate I think for the future of Trowbridge we should be welcoming this with open arms."

More than 400 car parking spaces would be lost for two years and a Car Parking Forum has been created to look at possible temporary measures to tackle the problem. The planning permission includes provision that the legal agreement to be drawn up with the developer should include a requirement for the provision of car parking whilst work is carried out.

Development at the former Tesco site at St Stephen's Place is scheduled for completion by September 2006, with work at Castle Place expected to be finished by September 2009.