COMMUNITY groups are uniting in opposition to a planning application for 48 homes near Lydiard Park.

They say they have been spurred on by a ‘deep sense of outrage’ at the proposal from Taylor Wimpey to build the development on land south of Tewksbury Way.

And more than 100 residents have submitted comments on Wiltshire Council’s website since the plans were lodged at the beginning of the month.

This includes one from Ruth Irik who lives in Holland. She said: "I would like to object to the plan of building houses in sight of Lydiard park. It is a beautiful place where I think of with joy in my heart."

While Mike Akers from Bristol added: “Swindon needs to preserve this historic and beautiful green space and protect the land immediately surrounding it.”

Now a number of community organisations have come together in a united show of opposition.

They include the Shaw Residents' Association, the Friends of Lydiard Park and the Lydiard Park Heritage Trust, together with other Swindon and Lydiard Millicent residents.

A new group known as the Lydiard Heritage Action Group has also now been formed.

Their main objections to the plans are that it is being built too close to the historic house.

Kevin Fisher, chairman of the new group said: “We are calling on everyone who cares about Lydiard Park to lodge an objection with Wiltshire Council."

Sarah Finch-Crisp, who led the Lydiard Park Restoration Project, added: “Such development will inevitably destroy the tranquillity of this historic rural environment and bring the town to Lydiard’s doorstep.

“The park is a very special place enjoyed by some 850,000 people each year. It is our heritage, a country park and not an urban park – we must all fight hard to keep it that way."

Meanwhile Mike Sharp described the proposal as part of a 'pincer movement' when taken into context with a separate application by Custom Land and Star Planning to build 60 homes on land adjacent to Meadow Springs in Lydiard Millicent.

He said: "This is a Trojan horse application, if approved, many more fields around Lydiard Park and all the open space between Swindon, Lydiard Millicent, Hook and other outlying villages will fall to developers.”

However Taylor Wimpey has previously stated they are only building on three of the 35 hectares of green open land, which they have owned for more than 30 years, near Lydiard Park. Previous applications for the land have been met by protests and furore.

But Taylor Wimpey insist the new plans will provide much-needed affordable housing and public open space, which they will gift to Lydiard Tregoze Parish Council.

Comments on the application, number 16/06978/FUL, can be registered on Wiltshire Council's website. For more information visit the Shaw Residents' Association website shawresidents.org.uk