Demand for facelift of Peter Black site (From This Is Wiltshire)

WILTSHIRE Council is pushing receivers of the derelict Peter Black toiletries factory to make use of the site as it looks at more regeneration plans for Trowbridge.

The eyesore – off County Way, opposite Tesco, and near where the St Stephen’s Place cinema development is being built – has been closed for years and is now in a poor condition.

Tim Martienssen, the council’s head of service delivery, economy and regeneration, gave an update on the site’s future at last Thur-sday’s Trowbridge Area Board meeting, held at County Hall.

He said: “GVA Grimley, the agent acting on the part of the receivers, is keen to market the site and will be coming back to us with its plans.”

Over the winter, following a council request, work has been done to improve the site, but, because of the overgrown plants on the boundaries of the land, in Mortimer Street and County Way, it is preparing a section 215 notice to require any site problems to be addressed.

Mr Martienssen said: “My personal view is to flatten the site as soon as possible, but that may not be the council’s view.

“If GVA comes back to us and says it wants to sell the site, we will be pushing very hard on this.”

The area board had expected an update on the site from the council’s economy and service regeneration director, Alistair Cunningham, but he was called away.

The Area Board chairman, Councillor Graham Payne, said: “I’m very disappointed he’s not here and I’d like Alistair Cunningham to be informed of our displeasure.

“We have been discussing the Peter Black site for the last 12 months at least and if you go around the town everyone is concerned and asks what is going on with that eyesore when there is a new development coming, trying to sell Trowbridge.”

Mr Martienssen also said Wiltshire Council was working on a master plan to continue the regeneration of Trowbridge, with the St Stephen’s Palace development and planned improvements to the former Bowyers site becoming focal points for the town.

He said: “This is an evolving vision for the town, putting family at the heart of Trowbridge.

“A fundamental requirement is that the town centre is easily accessible from the train station, incorporating the development.”

The council is working with Transforming Trow-bridge on the master plan, with the campus project and improved shopping and leisure facilities being at the centre of considerations.

After this year’s council elections there will be a six-week public consultation, with a series of events.

The area board will be hosting a workshop on the master plan.