BATTLE FOR COATE: 1998: Swindon Council announces that Great Western Hospital would be the only development on Coate.

November 2003: Battle lines are drawn. University of Bath officially unveils plan to build a new campus on Coate.

July 2003: Housing firm David Wilson Estates suggests an alternative site on farmland near Stratton St Margaret. The plans are dismissed.

February 2004: Recently formed Save Coate action group launches a petition and organises a massive leaflet drop.

March 2004: Rumours spread of Government plans for a prison at Coate. These later emerged to be false.

November 2004: Around 1,500 people cut out paper hands and join them together around Coate Lake in a show of support for the Save Coate Campaign.

February 2005: Swindon Action Forum says the university campus should be built in the town centre.

February 2005: An Evening Advertiser poll of 900 readers shows that 70 per cent are in favour of a new campus. More than half say they want it built in the town centre. Thirty-five per cent say it should be built at Coate.