OPPOSITION to Taylor Wimpey's proposed Ambrose Field development continues to mount as a decision from the council's planning committee approaches.

The developers are seeking permission to build 62 homes on green land off Croft Road in a move that has seen opposition from local residents and councillors representing both major political parties.

Now those opposed to the development are being asked to come together for a campaign rally and photo call this Saturday morning at 10.30am.

Organised by Labour's Old Town councillors Nadine Watts and Jane Milner-Barry, as well as former South Swindon parliamentary candidate Sarah Church, the rally is aimed at showing the strength of opposition ahead of a decision in just a couple of months time.

Residents are being asked to meet at the Ambrose Road entrance to the field.

The Ambrose Field site is not allocated for housing in the Swindon Borough Local Plan, a document that has been signed off by central government.

The Local Plan is an expensive document to produce and is the product of extensive consultation and planning work. In theory it is supposed to identify where, when and how development should take place across the borough and act as a guide for developers when they are identifying areas that they wish to build on.

However, in practice the Local Plan is a hurdle that developers have found it easy to overcome.

Local authorities must show that they can provide a viable five year supply of housing in line with numbers allocated to them.

In Swindon, as in many other towns and cities, delays in the delivery of major projects mean that the council has been unable to prove they have a sufficient supply of housing. In such cases, the developers are no longer obliged to adhere to the Local Plan and any attempts to stand in the way of speculative developments are unlikely to be successful.

This is what happened in the case of Berkeley Farm in Wroughton, where Swindon Borough Council rejected the application only for the Planning Inspector to approve it on appeal.

Campaigners now fear that the same may happen with the Ambrose Field development.

Old Town Councillor, Nadine Watts, said: "I would welcome all residents who are concerned about this planning application to join us for a rally at the entrance to Ambrose Fields.

"We object to the proposals as building on Ambrose Field is outside the Local Plan and this land should act as a rural buffer between Old Town and Wichelstowe. Access to the development from Croft Road, negative impact on wildlife, increased risk of flooding, and drainage issues are all problems resulting from this development.

"We are also concerned about the local water supply. Thames Water state that the existing water supply infrastructure currently has insufficient capacity to meet the additional demands for the proposed development. What improvements are planned and will they be adequate?

"My colleague Jane Milner-Barry and I are also concerned about the safety of the access to the development from Croft Road, and the impact of up to 120 more vehicles a day entering and leaving the site. This is likely to cause traffic jams on Croft Road which is already very busy.

"It would be great to see as many people as possible to send a strong message to the developer, Taylor Wimpey.

"Although the statutory period of consultation has finished, comments will still be accepted until the application goes to the Planning Committee which won't be before August.

"Objections can be sent to sbcdc@swindon.gov.uk, quoting reference S/OUT/17/0882 and giving your name and address."