SWINDON'S difficult relationship with the University of Bath could be over by the summer, it has been revealed.

For years the university battled for a site at Coate to develop a huge new campus.

That plan fell apart earlier this year and last month the university confirmed it would pull out of its Oakfield Campus - but keep some kind of presence.

Now Swindon Council, which leased the Oakfield Campus site to the university, says the educator could be out before the next academic year begins.

"At the moment they say they want to withdraw from the site by July 1," said Bill Cotton, director of economic and cultural development at Swindon Council.

"But we are in the process of negotiating on that because they have some courses ongoing and some which will go back to Bath.

"We are trying to find new homes for some of those courses and for the Innovation Centre. But to be honest we're unclear about what we'll do with the site and the building there.

"Obviously it is a real asset and I know that some colleagues, in social services and education, say they could make use of it.

"If we wanted to dispose of it we have to consider covenants on the use of the site, but it is clearly an asset that we need to think about.

"Selling off the land could be an option at some point.

"But for now we are focusing on managing the university out of the site."

A spokesman for the university said negotiations between the two bodies had not started.

When asked about suggested withdrawal date the university refused to comment.

South Swindon MP Anne Snelgrove met bosses of the Higher Education Funding Council before Christmas because of enormous concern about the University of Bath's behaviour'.

"I feel we need a solution for the Oakfield Campus as soon as possible," she said.

"Not only are people's jobs at stake but there are others in the middle of courses who need to know what is going to happen.

"I would prefer the site to be retained for an educational use.

"It is in the right place for regeneration for the area, it is a nice building and people really like it."

Mr Cotton said the council was now looking at the lease arrangements the university had and if any services could be retained.

"Staff at the site at every level, lecturers, porters and security, are all looking for new jobs," he said.

"For us this wasn't something we were expecting so we haven't had contingency plans drawn up for what we would do with this site."