PLANS for a science park near Wanborough have been criticised.

Gary Sumner, ward councillor for the village, said the proposed development would not have the infrastructure to support it.

And the councillor, who also sits on Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet as lead member for strategic planning, warned similar science park proposals at Badbury Park had been abandoned in favour of a 300-home development.

Plans for the park, which developers hope to build on farmland between The Marsh and Pack Hill, will go on display to the public next month.

If built, the science park would be clearly visible from the A419 at the Commonhead rtoundabout.

Encouraging residents to attend the event on September 5 and to comment on the plans, Coun Sumner said: “This is countryside not allocated for development. We have already allocated land for 8,000 homes, including employment sites at the New Eastern Villages where large warehouses are currently available.

“A science park was proposed at Badbury Park and after five years plus of marketing it will now become 300 homes.

“This site does not have the required infrastructure to support it and it immediately adjoins the AONB at Pack Hill and is part of the protected setting of Upper Wanborough.”

Proposals for the site are being drawn up by Wasdell Properties Ltd, owned by the Blagrove-based Wasdell Group, which provides packaging and logistics services for pharmaceutical firms.

The company says the new science park, based on land at Inlands Farm, near Wanborough, will offer facilities for research and development and high-tech manufacturing.

Inviting members of the public to an exhibition of the plans next month, a spokeswoman for Wasdell Properties said: “We are committed to engaging with the local community and stakeholders on these proposals early on as part of our consultation programme, and we want to hear people’s views.

“Members of the team involved in working up the scheme will be on hand at the exhibition to meet members of the public, employers and others who are interested to learn more and to let us know what they think.”

The firm has already been in discussion with Swindon Borough Council over the plans. They will submit planning documents in the coming weeks, asking council planners what factors need to be considered as part of an environmental impact assessment of the park proposals.

The exhibition of plans will be on Wednesday, September 5, 3pm – 7.30pm at The Holiday Inn, Marlborough Road. A free shuttle bus will run from outside the Cross Keys on Burycroft, the Plough Inn on High Street and at the bus stop opposite the top of Kite Hill.