Politicians, councils, campaign groups and hundreds of residents have all written to Swindon Borough Council to object to plans to build a huge distribution centre and research facility between Wanborough and south Swindon.

Wasdell Group, a pharmaceutical distributor and manufacturer based in Swindon is expanding and wants to build a new base, with a possibility of extending the site just off the A419 for a 'science park'.

But villagers from Wanborough have mobilised and written in their hundreds to express their disapproval.

Many objections focussed on what one called unacceptable urbanisation of the green space between the village and the main town.

Ronald and Isabella Hagger, who live in Wanborough wrote: "This is a low skill light industrial development, not a 'science park'. We are left speechless at the sheer size and spread of this proposal -it is as big as Wanborough. How can this be in keeping with its environment?"

Ben Bermingham wrote that Wanborough's economy, including its five pubs, depended on visitors attracted by the rural setting of the village and this would be damaged by the development.

Wanborough Parish Council is also against the scheme and wrote: "Swndon Borough Council has “rejected” this site (under the strategic housing and employment land availability assessment consultation) and confirms there is no evidence to support an employment site at this location."

While the scheme would almost certainly be decided by councillors on the authority's planning committee, planners at Euclid Street don't seem impressed - a comment by the development management team called the plan: "a development of substantial scale, in a sensitive rural location, which would create an unacceptable urbanisation of existing countryside", while the masterplanning, design & conservation team at the council said: "The proposed scheme would cause irreversible harm to the surrounding designated heritage assets and open countryside which forms an integral component of the setting of these assets."

Wasdell Group said: "This is a development for Swindon as a whole. It will initially bring 600 new jobs at all skill levels to the Swindon economy, as well as creating new opportunities for the current 230 local suppliers to Wasdell.

“We would encourage all residents to look at the planning application on Swindon Borough Council’s website and see for themselves how this Science Park is to be developed.”