HONDA is planning to dump nearly 7,000 cars in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

The car giant is planning to use the runways on the former Wroughton Airfield as a temporary storage site for vehicles because of a general slow down in sales.

But residents and local councillors are worried about car transporters thundering through Wroughton village, as well as the effect on the landscape.

The site is owned by the Science Museum, where the Tabernacle Stones are currently housed.

Honda has said that up to 30 transporters would go to and from the site every day, but would be limited to travelling between 9.30am and 3.30pm.

But resident Teresa Scranney said that even with Honda’s self-imposed limits there was still cause for concerns.

She said: “That time frame takes in the end of all three schools in the area. The junior school finishes at 2.45pm, the infant school at 3pm and Ridgeway finishes at 3.15pm.

“The route Honda intends using through the village is along Swindon Road, Moormead Road, Devizes Road, High Street and Church Hill – all mainly well-populated residential streets.

“The A4361 through the village can be busy at rush hours, but there's nothing like the volume Honda now proposes throughout the day, nor are there many vehicles the size of these transporters.”

Teresa is also concerned about the visual impact, although Honda has said it does not consider the airfield as a particularly attractive landscape and is partially industrial.

She said: “In the village we don’t consider the airfield to be industrial - we view it as a part of local history.”

Honda has promised to lessen the impact on the landscape by covering the cars in a non-reflective white wrap, which will also protect the vehicles from damage.

Ward councillor Brian Ford said: “While I am in favour of Honda storing their vehicles there I am concerned about transport issues.

“In terms of the visual impact –in an ideal world this wouldn’t be happening, but in the current economic climate I think it is the right thing to do.”

Matt Moore, project manager for the Science Museum, said: “Honda are a major employer in Swindon and we are happy to do what we can to support them at this difficult economic time.

“In terms of transport I know that Honda and Swindon Council are in talks to minimise the effect of that.”

Any objections need to be made to the council by Thursday, November 6.