Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

Bowyers site in Trowbridge - housing, shops or jobs?
West Wiltshire Council is working with the South West of England Regional Development Agency (RDA) to establish the site's limitations and opportunities, ahead of the factory closure in April next year.

Michael Mounde, the Council's economy and regeneration portfolio holder, said: "Bowyers has been a Trowbridge landmark for many decades, and the site is a vital part of the town's employment heritage. It is excellent news that we have the support of the South West RDA at this early stage, and I am also very pleased that we are working closely with the factory's owners, Pork Farms Ltd."

He added: "We are very clear that any future development in this location will be for employment. We have more than sufficient housing and retail schemes in the pipeline, thanks to other projects coming forward through the Transforming Trowbridge initiative."

This was supported by Peter Wynn, the South West RDA's development manager for Wiltshire and Swindon. "Trowbridge already has the benefit of established planning guidance, which sets out how the town should grow and develop. We are keen to do all we can to secure Trowbridge's position as the county town, and there are a number of options that we want to explore for this central site."

Pork Farms has announced that work will start to be moved away from the Trowbridge factory early in 2008, with the site due to close in April. General manager Mike Godley said: "The company has been an integral part of this town for several generations and, while we obviously regret that we have to move away, we want to do all that we can to leave Trowbridge with a positive legacy of our time here."