Breaking News in Melksham is that Asda, the supermarket chain, is looking to build a large supermarket with 28000 square feet, 250 parking spaces and create 300 jobs on the outskirts of the town at "West Country Farmers" near the railway. Currently, we have a smaller Sainsbury's and a Somerfield in the town itself; the nearest big out of town supermarkets being at Chippenham and Trowbridge.

With planned population growth from 24000 to 32000 in the next 20 years, such a store is well justified.  There IS a need for expanded local shopping rather than the 7 mile treck by car to neighbouring towns.  The location very close to the railway station also encourages me, as it allows a true transport hub to be in that area of town, with the town bus and perhaps other services calling as Leekes, Spencer Gate shops, Melksham Station, and Asda each 30 minutes.

Website about the Melksham proposal:

http://www.asdamelksham.co.uk/home.html

And the Chippenham one:

http://www.langleyparkchippenham.com/www.langleyparkchippenham.coms/info.php?p=9&pno=0

and I might as well put the Amesbury link on too:

http://www.asda-amesbury.co.uk/

The Chippenham plan has been thrown out by North Wiltshire District Council (link below.)
http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/latestheadlines/display.var.1481690.0.asda_plan_thrown_out.php

I am putting this information here to help Melksham people put pressure on Asda to take responsibility for public transport.

In today's edition (13 Feb) of the Avon Advertsier, p. 6, there is piece on Asda's pledge to provide £500,000 on local transport if its Solstice Park store in Amesbury gets the go-ahead.

They will provide a new bus service operating a curricular route around the town linking residential areas with the bus station.  It will also provide a new cycle link and footpath to Bulford and build new pedestrian crossings and provide a bus stop on Porton Road.

The final decision to be made in March.

Hilarious!  I like the logic.  Rather than thinking what they could do about it (and get Asda to pay), they would rather object... (not that I think Asda would be good for Melksham, there are some moves afoot to impose one on Salisbury, yuk)