HUNDREDS of furious villagers formed a human chain to show the size of a massive controversial ‘science park’ planned close to their homes.

Angrily waving placards, they turned out in force to protest at the massive development in Wanborough by pharmaceutical manufacturer the Wasdell Group.

The first phase includes building a warehouse 50ft high and 180ft wide on Inlands Farm.

To show the scale of the building and potential impact on the landscape, which sits next to an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, more than 200 protesters formed a 180ft line across the site earmarked for phase one of the development.

Helium balloons on 50ft strings were held by some demonstrators to show the scale and heigh of the warehouse – if it wins planning permission.

Richard Angwin, who has lived in Wanborough for the past seven years and used to be a weather presenter for BBC Points West, told the Adver: “It’s not what it’s billed to be – a science park – it’s an industrial estate, which doesn’t sound anywhere near as attractive and it isn’t.

“The plans themselves show it. It’s a 50ft building which would stretch all the way across the field.

“It’s a massive warehouse and distribution centre. Calling it a science park is somewhat fanciful.

“This development has no place in a village like Wanborough. I think the turn out today of more than 200 residents shows the depth of feeling which exists not just in this village but in all the surrounding villages.

“The visual impact is one aspect, it’s a huge building, we’ll also have noise and light pollution. But as someone who walks and runs around here, it’s a loss of the countryside.

“We’re all also concerned about the number of vehicles and trucks accessing this site. Just adding to all the problems, we already have on the A419 going down to the M4.”

The first warehouse built could employ up to 600 people, according to the company, but residents fear this could mean traffic and HGVs blocking up the narrow country roads round the clock.

“Nobody is against jobs,” added Richard. “People are not protesting about this to say hell to people’s jobs.

“It’s simply that Wasdell wants to build on this site because it’s cheap and they want the freehold. There are plenty of other sites in Swindon but they see this as an opportunity to get a site on the cheap. A site which should be left as open countryside.”

Vivian Coppen, who lives on Ham Road looking down on the site, said the protest was a wake-up call.

“This has been quite a dramatic eye opener. I didn’t realise how big it was going to be,” she said.

“So many people go walking through this field and I’m in a running group that regularly use the paths around here.

“There’s also the logistics of it. I drive to Bristol and need to get on the motorway and if I time it wrong in the morning it’s already terrible.

“A development like this will spoil the character of the whole village.

“We moved here from London 25 years ago to enjoy the village life, we didn’t realise we would be in a worse position.”

Husband John Coppen added: “Once they get a foothold into the land it will just expand.”

Organiser John Warr, who has spearheaded the campaign by the South Swindon Protection Group, added: “It’s not just nimbyism on our part, people in Swindon should have the right to come out to be able to enjoy areas like this.

“They are just hoping they can find a cheaper place than in Swindon.

“We are not objecting to development in principle.

“It might not even be a science park. Look at what happened at the development at Badbury Park.

“There wasn’t enough interest and in the end after five years the land got turned into houses.”

Bob Gill, who has lived in the village for 19 years, said: “It’s just an outrageous proposal. To stick a 50ft science park near an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty when we have got commercial facilities in Swindon, it’s the worst place for it.

“It’s the same size as Wanborough church steeple and almost four double decker buses stacked on top of each other.”

A spokesperson for the Wasdell Group said: “We encourage people to look at the planning application on Swindon Borough Council’s website and see for themselves how this Science Park is actually going to be developed.”