A PUBLIC meeting has been called to form a united opposition to a proposed housing development near Lydiard Park as developers prepare to submit their plans.

Taylor Wimpey have been consulting on a scheme for 50 homes on the outskirts of the protected land, while gifting 89 per cent of the land they own to Lydiard Millicent Parish Council.

But objections to the plans have been voiced by politicians and residents since the scheme was announced last autumn.

As the land lies within the boundary of Wiltshire but would impact considerably on the road network and landscape of Swindon, the meeting has been called to form a united front.

Coun Tim Swinyard, (Con, Lydiard and Freshbrook), said: “We are expecting the application to be submitted by the end of August, and calling the meeting early is probably the best timing, before it goes to committee.

“What we need to do is get Wiltshire and Swindon working together to oppose this.

“It has been great to work with Wiltshire because they are as opposed to this development as we are.

“I grew up in Lydiard, and it has always been the jewel in Swindon’s crown, it is part of our heritage, our history and our culture.

“Having houses in view of St Mary’s Church would completely spoil that, and a lot of people do not realise that Lydiard is one of those places so many people have so much passion for.

“It is something we have to work to protect.

“The whole point of this meeting is to get everyone together to oppose the application and to defeat it. We need to get all the arguments together and have the same plan of attack.”

Robert Buckland, South Swindon MP, will be addressing the meeting alongside James Gray, MP for North Wiltshire.

“I take the view that where you have a newly approved local plan, or one that is close to approval, allowing developments that are not included in those proposals is not right,” said Mr Buckland.

“There is an overlying concern about the integrity of the local plan if these sort of developments were to be approved.

“As somebody who uses Lydiard Park myself, it is a very treasured part of our local amenities, and any encroachment upon it should be taken very seriously indeed.

“I am worried that to open the door now would lead to applications being made of a similar nature.”

The meeting will be held at Lydiard Millicent Church of England Primary School at 6pm on September 2.