HUNDREDS of much-,needed affordable homes are on their way to west Wiltshire but the news has sparked anger among dozens of residents who could lose vital car parks to the project.

On Wednesday West Wiltshire District Council received confirmation their bid for Private Finance Initiative credits to build at least 400 homes had been successful. There are currently 3,900 households on the housing register who are desperately in need of affordable accommodation.

On Wednesday the cabinet were asked to approve a list of council-owned areas to put forward as suitable sites for development. As part of the scheme it has agreed to provide land for at least 100 homes.

Despite hearing concerns from members of the public about the loss of car parks and open spaces the cabinet voted to approve the full list so planning applications can begin as soon as possible.

Adrian Bass, who has spearheaded the campaign to save Westbury Leigh car park, said while the decision was disappointing it was not unexpected. He and other members of the Westbury Leigh Residents' car park action group sprang into action last month when they discovered their car park was threatened The group has vowed to continue the fight as the project moves into the planning stage.

Fellow campaigner Michael Adam said: "I got the impression that none of the councillors, especially Trevor Carbin, took any notice of what anybody said and just went ahead and approved the list."

Cllr Carbin, chairman of the PFI project board, said: "What we don't have here is the 8,000 people on the waiting list. Perhaps it would be interesting to hear what they have to say." He said it was important to keep all the proposed sites in the list at this stage as some would inevitably fall at the planning stage.

Other car parks causing concern include Union Street in Melksham, Conigre Hill in Bradford on Avon and Emwell and Weymouth Street in Warminster. Julie Cromwell, of Union Street, said the proposed new housing was "absolutely unacceptable" and that taking the car park away would only increase tensions in the street.

Planning applications should be submitted in May with a contractor selected by the middle of next year.