Angry residents in Hawkeridge have formed an action group to fight a proposed 35-acre business park in the Westbury village, with concerns raised about its impact on the small rural community.

Land at Mill Lane opposite the entrance to the West Wilts Trading Estate has been identified within the draft Wiltshire Core Strategy for employment use by developers HPH of Bath for a business park called Hawke Ridge.

But residents from Mill Lane, Hawkeridge village and The Ham have formed an action group to fight the plans and preserve the landscape and environment where they live. The action group says the business park will overshadow village and country homes, including a Grade-II listed farm, while roads will be jammed.

Chairman of the action group William Wilson, of Hawkeridge Farm, said: “I spoke against the business park at the core strategy hearing last week.

“Wiltshire Council state they will protect the views to and from the listed farm, but we cannot understand how this can possibly happen when large buildings are built alongside.

“The council has also said the sacrifice of one listed building is acceptable, which is contrary to their policies on conservation and the law.

“The developers announced this proposal as if it is all signed off and to everyone’s agreement. The development will change everything, footpaths will be removed, wildlife will disappear and it will be noisy with street lighting and the view of an industrial estate.”

Residents were invited to look at the plans for the business park during a public exhibition held at The Laverton on July 4, with an outline planning application yet to be submitted