CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating after planning permission for a concrete batching plant on the outskirts of Melksham was refused.

Today around 30 protesters packed the chamber at County Hall as Wiltshire County Council's regulatory committee turned down proposals from Tarmac Ltd to build the plant at Sahara Sands in Sandridge.

Diana Darwall, one of the campaigners said: We are delighted with this decision and it sends a message to Tarmac and other developers that we'll fight proposals such as this.

"We are a force to be reckoned with and it was worth every second of the time and effort we've had to put into the campaign."

The residents felt so strongly about the development they formed a Save Sandridge group to organise the fight.

Councillors refused planning permission on the grounds the plant would be an inappropriate development in open countryside and dust and lighting from the site could harm the environment.