FAMOUS faces have been putting their names behind the campaign to save Coate Water.

Following in Ant and Dec’s footsteps, singer Gilbert O’Sulllivan and former Town manager Lou Macari have added their support after seeing appeals for support in the Advertiser.

In a letter the singer-songwriter, who used to live in Swindon, said: “I fully support the Save Coate Campaign.

“Coate Water is the jewel in the crown and must be protected at all costs against developers, none of whom are short of areas to build north, south and west of the town.”

Though the lake itself is not threatened, two developers have applied for planning permission to build on the site between the M4, Marlborough Road and the east of Coate Water.

Mr O’Sullivan, famous for songs Alone Again and Get Down, was brought up in Swindon and still regularly visits the town to see his sister and mother, who lives near Coate Water.

Also adding his name to the petition is Lou Macari, who managed Swindon Town Football Club in the 1980s.

The campaign has been picking up speed, with 44,000 people now signed the new petition.

Jean Saunders, the spokeswoman for the Save Coate Campaign, said it was largely down to the efforts of concerned individuals’ efforts and the celebrity factor.

“People are rushing to sign the petition and it’s helped that the Advertiser has highlighted this,” she said.

“Well-known names are putting their names behind the campaign and we’re getting a lot more national figures coming forward.”

She believes celebrities have allowed the campaign to reach new heights.

“I think lots people who might flick through it really have read about the Coate issue,” she said.

“It might just have hit home that there was something going on.

“I’m always flabbergasted about the number of people that haven’t heard anything about it.”

Retired teacher Felicity Cobb has also used her contacts to get celebrities involved.

The petition to protect the area around Coate Water has been running since 2004.

The original plan included 1,800 homes and a university.

However, in March 2007, the University of Bath pulled out of the plans submitted by the Swindon Gateway Partnership.

A spokesman for developer Persimmon Special Project Western said earlier this month it was still in the process of finding a university to set up on the Coate Water development.

The plans are expected to go before the planning committee in October.

Mrs Saunders added: “As much as anything we just want the support of every person who loves Coate Water and that tends to be really everybody.”

To sign the petition or get more information call Mrs Saunders on 01793 783040 or sign the online petition at www.savecoate. org.uk.

Anyone wishing to get involved in the campaign should call 01793 535725.