The first of what Swindon Town fans hope will be many improvements at the County Ground will be considered by the council's planning department.

Swindon Town FC has submitted a planning application to Swindon Borough Council, asking to transform an area of grass into a new facility for supporters. 

The plans are asking the council for permission to change the use of a grassed area to a dedicated Swindon Town Fan Zone including the erection of a timber kiosk, security gates and fencing and associated works.

The plans also include more details of the long-awaited statue of Don Rogers and where it will be located. 

Swindon Advertiser: The statue of Don Rogers proposed for the new fanzone at the County Ground

The application doesn't include a lot of detail but there is a cover letter and some site plans showing people what it might look like. 

A decision is not yet due, but a response from the council's environment team has stated that the current plans are "not acceptable" in their current form. 

The cover letter from Savills on behalf of the club said: "Please find attached a full planning application for a fan zone (including a statue) which is proposed on land east of the County Ground car park on land between the Don Rogers Stand and the Magic Roundabout.

The proposed area for the fanzone is a stretch of grass opposite the club shop. 

Swindon Advertiser: If approved, the area will be enclosed by green security fencing. It will have the statue of Don Rogers previously mentioned by the Trust in the centre, a wooden stepped area on one side and a timber kiosk on the other, although there is no detail as to what would be in the kiosk. 

There will be community artwork going along the fencing. 

But it looks like changes are going to need to be made to the plans as environmental officer Charles Potterton has objected to them in their current form. 

Swindon Advertiser: The new fanzone a the County Ground revealed by a planning application

In his response, he said: "Whilst I have no issue with the wider proposal, I would object to the removal of the existing hedge and tree. Indeed, more information on these important elements should have been included.

"I suggest that the scheme needs to be redesigned in such a way as to retain these important elements. I would also want to see additional hedge and tree planting included on the east and south side of the proposed site.

"When describing the proposed fence, again more detail is needed – one assumes it is paladin. Hedging and tree planting is needed to soften the appearance of the fence also.

"The scheme is therefore not acceptable in its current format."