BUFFER zones between Coate Water and the proposed Bath University development will not provide enough protection for wildlife environmentalists claim.

They expressed their concerns at the second day of a public inquiry into Swindon Council's local plan, which is looking into the proposed development.

During the inquiry, at the Pilgrims Centre in Regents Circus, the nine different aspects of the development site were looked at.

Each has a different proposed buffer zone to protect Coate Water from the development.

According to Tim Frayling of English Nature, the area next to the M4 is used by breeding birds including lap-wings and reed warbler.

But lawyers representing the council said studies did not indicate that this was an important wildlife area.

There was also a dispute over the proposed boundary of 100 metres for the area close to Day House Lane.

This comes within a few metres of the proposed development and according to English Nature the buffer is not big enough and it should be extended.

Lawyers for the developers have argued that as the open water is an artificially created pond it does not warrant a larger buffer zone.

The inquiry is to resume on Thursday, May 5.