A WRANGLE over the terms for bringing a university to Swindon dominated the afternoon session on the first day of the Coate inquiry.

Swindon Council called its first two witnesses - both planning officers with the authority.

They were quizzed over the suitability of both the Coate site and the council's favoured North Star location.

Ian Halsall, senior planner urban design, gave background into the original deal with the University of Bath and his opinions on why the University of the West of England could not simply be slotted into the same proposal.

Richard Bell, head of forward planning, talked about the suitability of the North Star site and pressed how vital a town centre element was for any agreement with a univeristy.

However, under cross-examination by Christopher Lockhart-Mummery, on behalf of Swindon Gateway Partnership, he admitted that there was no binding agreement between the council and the University of Bath ensuring a town centre site.