A £15MILLION scheme to create a network of cycle tracks, footpaths, with canal and railway links between Cricklade and Swindon could destroy the area's wildlife and archaeology.

North Wiltshire planners considering early plans for the Cricklade Country Way have been told by English Heritage the scheme 'would have a disastrous and wholly unacceptable impact'.

The Environment Agency , Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, the county archaeologist and Natural England have also condemned the plans as lacking any assurance irrevocable damage will not be done through the scheme.

But in a North Wiltshire District Council report this week, planning officer Céline Le Boëdec-Hughes warns the lack of support could scupper a bid for lottery cash.

English Heritage said it was concerned about preserving the Saxon defences of the town.

"This proposal would have a disastrous and wholly unacceptable impact upon the setting and landscape context of this monument.

"It will involve serious damage and disturbance to an unscheduled group of well-preserved ridge-and-furrow earthworks which form a significant aspect of Saxon Cricklade's landscape setting."

The County Archaeologist added that there is a high chance for discovering new sites of buried features and heritage items along the route.

Many other organisations consulted over the proposals have also raised objections and believe the plans are not detailed enough.

Natural England fear the work will destroy protected wildlife and their habitats, the Environment Agency are concerned about the development increasing flooding risks while Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is concerned at the threat to protected species in the area.

The scheme which aims to reopen a stretch of the long gone North Wiltshire canal with a footpath, cycle route and a steam railway running alongside has already run into choppy water.

The district council were forced to plough an extra £45,000 into the scheme back in February to help organisers meet the May 31 deadline for the lottery cash bid.

And the original project manager Chaloner Chute had to be replaced in January after falling ill the previous month.

Local residents and landowners are equally unimpressed with the scheme.

A total of 35 letters of objection raise complaints from the increase in petty crime, anti-social behaviour, noise from boat residents and the effect on council tax to the fear that Cricklade will become a 'souless parade of souvenir shops, games arcades and fish and chip shops'.

However, project manager Ken Oliver remains confident the bid will be successful.

He told the Standard: "The objections weren't anything other than what we expected. If you were judging the project just by those objections it would not be a fair response. We have had lots of support locally.

"I'm very confident the Cricklade Country Way Project fills all the criteria for the Living Landmarks pot of money we are bidding for."