A recent planning application for the Abbey Stadium has sparked a prompt response from the local parish council.

St Andrews Parish Council has called an extraordinary meeting to discuss Gaming International's new application asking for the requirement to keep speedway and greyhound racing at the Blunsdon venue to be removed. 

It is now encouraging members of the public to join them on Wednesday, March 27, at 7.30pm in Redhouse Community Centre. 

Following this, the parish council plans to issue a 'consolidated statement' reflecting residents' views on the application that will then be submitted to the Swindon Borough Council planning department. 

The borough council is currently in the middle of a formal investigation into Gaming International and developer Taylor Wimpey into possible breaches of planning requirements for the construction of a new stadium there. 

A parish council spokesperson said: "We at the parish council have very recently been made aware of an application (by the stadium site developer) to remove one of the formal conditions imposed on them to build and finish the stadium complex.

The change would remove the requirement for the developer to build a stadium complex that supports speedway and dog track events.

"This, in its extreme form, could mean that the requirement to build any form of stadium or complex on the existing site is watered down so much that it will all be removed/cancelled and the stadium site itself can then be developed for further housing, leaving no entertainment."

If you wish to read the application in detail visit the planning portal here - https://pa.swindon.gov.uk/publicaccess/ - then scroll down to the Public Access button and search for 0825MOD106

Anyone who wants their views taken into account can attend the meeting in person on Wednesday, submit a formal comment via the Swindon Borough Council planning portal or email the parish at clerk@standrews-pc.gov.uk with their comment including full name and address. 

The spokesperson added: "All comments (by any or all of the above methods) must be submitted in time for them to be taken account of by SBC in their process.

"Any comments that you wish the parish council to take into account must be submitted before or at the meeting because our formal response to SBC will be agreed upon at the end of the meeting.

"Please feel free to pass on details of this meeting to others who may have an interest."