Linden Homes is to go back to the drawing board to find an alternative site for the relocation of Westinghouse Cricket Club in Chippenham after town councillors refused to back its move to Stanley Park.

Representatives of the developers gave a presentation on its plans to move the club across town if permission is granted for up to 100 homes on the Westinghouse ground off Bristol Road.

Fran Chick, of CSJ Planning, said: “The Westinghouse site is considered as a playing site, and that requires the cricket club to be relocated.

“Usually that has to mean advanced and better facilities for the club, and we have therefore been looking at Stanley Park for some time.”

But Chippenham Mayor Sandra Oakes saidd that as the council will be involved in the planning process, it is not able to comment on, or support, any aspect of the scheme until a planning application has been submitted.

This means it cannot pass comment on the proposal to move the cricket club until the whole housing scheme has been drawn up and developers were told they will have to wait for a response.

Speaking after the meeting a spokesman for Linden Homes said: “We are very disappointed that the town council has decided not to support the relocation of the Westinghouse Cricket Club.

“The town council’s decision means we have no choice but to look at other possible locations.”

Cricket club chairman Christian Fry said: “After more than two years of working on a package with Linden Homes, we were hoping that the town council would support our proposed move to new and improved facilities at Stanley Park.

“The council’s reluctance to support Linden Homes’ relocation package for Westinghouse Cricket Club has thrown the future of one of Wiltshire’s oldest and most thriving cricket clubs into uncertainty.”