THE future of the Bowyers site in Trowbridge will be discussed at a Western Area planning committee meeting next month.

Developer Prorsus had an application for a cinema, a Morrisons supermarket, two non-food shops, a family pub, two restaurants and two cafes rejected last year.

In December, it submitted a reserve application, replacing the cinema with a gym and adding a petrol station. Those plans have now been called in for debate by councillors.

Trowbridge Mayor and Wiltshire Council member John Knight said: “This will be an opportunity for the supporters and opposers of the plans to discuss the proposal in a public forum.

“The first thing we have got to think about is how much of an important development this is to the town.”

As part the Prorsus’ plans, the developer has agreed to delay an appeal into the rejection of its first bid.

At the time, the council argued it could harm footfall in the town centre, as well as the cinema being built at St Stephen’s Place for Legal and General, with an 80-bedroom hotel and restaurants.

It said the plan, known as Innox Riverside, was against the Core Strategy and Trow-bridge’s Master Plan and would cause traffic delays.

Cllr Knight said: “This is important to the future of the town. I think this development would have far more of an effect on regenerating the town than the other one at St Stephen’s Place as it would be the first thing you see when you get off a train.”

The planning committee meets at 6pm on February 13.