SWINDON Council stands to net a cash windfall of around £600,000 if plans to sell off acres of public open space in the town go ahead, it has been revealed.

In response to a Freedom of Information request from the Swindon Advertiser, the council has admitted it is currently looking at proposals to dispose of 12,100 square metres of land designated as public open space.

The land – which is equivalent to about three County Ground football pitches – is scattered over 21 different locations and comes after requests were made to the council to either purchase or lease the land. This includes land at Lydiard Park and land opposite the Coleview Community Centre.

Since April 2009 the council has sold off 56 square metres of public open space for a total of £2,800, and if the rest is sold off at a similar rate the council would make £605,000.

Campaigners have raised concerns over the loss of public land that could otherwise be used for recreation and Justin Tomlinson MP raised the issue in the House of Commons this week.

In his maiden speech to the House this week, the Swindon North MP said the dwindling amounts of public open space in the town worried him.

He said high density new developments like those in Abbey Meads would lead to problems in the future and blamed it, in part, for the rise of childhood obesity.

He said: “Without those open spaces, it is no surprise that child obesity has increased.

“Too often, we look at improving leisure centres, which is a commendable thing, but the lion's share of sporting activity takes place in open spaces.

“I am concerned that the lack of such space will fuel antisocial behaviour, as young people's endless, enthusiastic energy will not be burnt off.”

A spokesman for national conservation body, The Open Spaces Society, said it was dismayed that the council was planning to sell off its public open spaces.

The society’s general secretary, Kate Ashbrook, said: ‘It is short-sighted to sell off public open spaces.

“We should invest in our spaces as vital oases for the recreation and health and happiness of local people.

“We are assisting communities in and around Swindon in applying to register their spaces as town or village greens, which gives them rights of recreation there and protects the land from development.

“We believe these spaces should remain truly public and not be filched to become part of a private garden or other development.”

Swindon Council said that of the public open spaces is was proposing to dispose of that have already appeared in public, 6,724 square metres were for purchase and 4,170 were for lease.

A council spokesman said: “The council’s policy is not to sell land which is classed as public open space except in certain circumstances. If the land is of very little amenity value or is particularly expensive or difficult for us to maintain, we reserve the right to sell that piece of land if there is a buyer.

“Most of the public open space we sell is to private homeowners who wish to extend their gardens or use the land as a replacement garden once they have extended their own properties.

“The public is always advised of any proposed sale via public notices in the local press and the council only sells the land if the applicant has successfully obtained planning permission to change the use of the land.”