Three patches of green open space could be transferred to South Swindon Parish Council to protect them from development.

Councillors Chris Watts and Jane Milner-Barry put forward a plan about land in Lakeside, one north of Coate roundabout, and one east of Marlborough Road to the parish council for 99 years. The idea is that the lower authority would keep them as recreation areas, and the borough council would not be tempted to use them for development, particularly housing. An amendment said the report should also identify a “transparent mechanism” to consider similar requests.

Coun Watts said: “South Swindon’s been getting a lot of requests from other parishes about how to do this, so it makes sense to have a way.”