SWINDON Council spent more than £220,000 on the two inquiries into the controversial plans to build homes at Coate.

Swindon Gateway Partnership’s application for 1,550 homes was rejected by the Government in 2009, but the developers’ revised proposals for 890 homes was approved in March.

Figures released to the Adver under the Freedom If Information Act show the council spent £147,000 on the first inquiry and £79,000 on the second, with fees for lawyers, consultants and venue hire accounting for the largest amount spend.

Barrister Anthony Crean QC, who represented the council during the 16-day first inquiry, was paid £70,000. Barrister Timothy Jones received £23,000 for the six-day second inquiry.

And the total cost is greater because the figures quoted do not include the salaries of council officers, who helped to prepare the cases and attended the inquiries.

Jean Saunders, of the Save Coate Campaign, said: “They could have saved money if they hadn’t been promoting Coate as a development site in their own plan.

“But to follow the will of the 52,000 people who signed the petition they had to fight the planning applications.”

She said Swindon Council should have led with its own staff as they should know more about the case.

Coun Dale Heenan, the cabinet member for strategic planning and sustainability, who was planning committee chairman at the time of the appeals, said the inquiries were worthwhile because they were what Swindon people wanted and because they forced concessions to protect the country park.

“We agreed with residents that the Coate planning applications weren’t right and we defended that decision.

“The alternative is we could have granted permission and that money was not spent but there would have been uproar from residents.”

Coun Heenan said the council had to pay for barristers because it needed independent professionals with experience of presenting legal arguments to go against those of the developers.

He said council officers are experienced at advising and presenting facts not legal arguments.

South Swindon MP Robert Buckland, who is also a criminal barrister, said: “The council could have been criticised if it didn’t do its job properly and get quality representation.

“If you look at it within the context of all the developer investment we’ve had over time in Swindon and the immense importance of the area to the community, then the figure becomes less significant.”