STRATTON St Margaret Parish Council has voted to show it is in favour of extending its parish boundary to potentially take in Penhill, Pinehurst and Gorse Hill should the need arise.

Swindon Borough Council is currently reviewing its governance and is proposing to parish most of the borough. It is understood that in areas where there is not already a parish council a new one would be created.

But at an extraordinary meeting of Stratton St Margaret Parish Council on Tuesday evening councillors voted in favour of exploring the possibility of expanding their own boundaries to take in some of the neighbouring areas that don’t fall under a parish at present.

Chairman of the council Joe Tray told members that the council was a forward thinking council that wanted to help others in the town.

He said: “If we expand it opens up more possibilities for devolving matters down, I really think we should be open minded and I think we should submit a paper saying we are open to it.

“Penhill used to be in Stratton and so did Gorse Hill apparently. I really feel for Penhill because they struggled as a community to put on a carnival. They could benefit from being with us and having us to help them.

“Without putting lines down on a map I think we should show a willingness to expand and a willingness to welcome anyone that comes into the envelope of Stratton St Margaret. We are not making a bid to take these areas on, but if things change or things happen to parish the town I think the people of Penhill and the people of Gorse Hill would benefit from coming into our parish and I think our parish would benefit as well.”

He stressed that no decisions would be made on adopting any of the other areas without it coming back before members, and that this was just to signal their willingness to consider the matter.

The motion was passed with a majority vote.