READERS took issue with borough council leader David Renard's assertion that £700m plans for industrial buildings or warehouses on the site of the former Honda plant represent a fantastic opportunity for Swindon.

The authority granted planning permission for the development by Pannattoni, which says it could add £330m a year to the town's economy and up to 12,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Labour group leader Jim Robbins highlighted concern that Swindon was attracting logistics jobs rather than high-skilled jobs like those lost when the plant shut down for good in 2021.

Some readers shared his view - and pointed out there was an election in the offing.

Here's what they said on our social media...

Neil Michael Robinson: "Nothing to celebrate here, manufacturing to warehouses - don't listen to the Tory Council spin."

David King: "Election coming up by any chance? The Tories making a circus sound good lol."

Kathryn Michelle: "They don’t build until they have a buyer. Look at symmetry park only two builds on that big science park both distribution warehouses. It’s great the site got purchased and initial planning is agreed but until they have a company willing to build and buy in there, there is nothing new to how it is now."

Richard Clark: "We’re usually hearing about new housing estates going up, in many cases on land that was previously used for employment.

"However this has conveniently happened prior to an election, so not surprising that the council have agreed to it. I just hope for Swindon’s future that it isn’t just going to be 100 per cent warehousing.

"There are so many young people leaving schools in Swindon, who have skills to go onto great things and it would be nicer if they had opportunities in their own town, rather than having to go and live and work elsewhere."

Bill Dalgliesh: "How about a new speedway track?"

Kevin Wright: "Nothing been said about, the size of the new building, so say they are going to be twice the height of the old building."

Danny Hughes: "Proud? Most things get reinvented worse in Swindon lol."

Alexander McBride: "Is it going to be a giant pound shop?"