CLAIMS that Ludgershall has been left behind while Tidworth and other parts of Wiltshire forge ahead with financial hand-outs were angrily refuted by the county councillor who represents both communities.

The claim was made by Ludgershall councillor Chris Williams, who said: "We need the backing of the county council and district council so that people believe that Ludgershall is a place worth investing in.

"At the moment things are not moving fast enough and the county council seems to concentrate on the west of the county."

Ludgershall chairman Jim Calder, said: "A lot of money has been spent in Tidworth and people want to see it spread about a bit."

But Mark Connolly said the county council had to concentrate on improving the west of the county as there were many sizeable towns on the far side of Salisbury Plain but that didn't mean Ludgershall was being ignored.

"Things are going on to attract money to the community area such as the business park which will provide 1,700 jobs over the next 10 years for people in Ludgershall and Tidworth.

"We are now looking at the whole community area not just Tidworth."

He revealed that the South West Regional Development Agency might be prepared to pay a £167,000 developer contribution towards the long-awaited link road through Doctor's Meadow which would relieve the centre of the village of heavy traffic.

He was hopeful that the link could be built in the next three years.