The potential developers of Langley Park and Hathaway Retail Park have offered the council £100,000 to deliver a lift on the northern side of the footbridge across the railway line.

When Network Rail replaces the footbridge it is going to provide a lift for wheelchairs and buggies to access platforms from the Cocklebury Road side of the railway.

But it has no plans to install a lift tower on the Old Road side.

Now Central Chippenham Partnership said it will do just that - if its planning application for Langley Park and Hathaway Retail Park is successful.

Wiltshire Council planners are due to make a decision on the multimillion pound redevelopment in Chippenham tonight.

The plans, which involve a 38,000 sq ft supermarket, 41,990 sq ft of employment space, 115 houses, a 102 bed hotel, a 30,000 sq ft leisure building and a garden centre, were recommended for approval in principle.

Chippenham Vision objected to the application in July because of concerns over its impact on retail in the town centre. But at their last meeting they decided no longer to object in the hope they could work together to include a parking facility on both sides of the railway.

Chairman Tom Jacques said: “The application is not completely compatible with Chippenham Vision at the moment, but we are hoping it moves on so that it is. We look forward to the delivery of this site in a way which will help to achieve the objectives set out in our masterplan for the town.

“At the moment the parking is completely on that [Hathaway] side of the railway line so any action to get to the town centre is long-winded. We want a single integrated car park linked across on both sides of the railway line.”