Sue Stebbings on the STOP March 76905-273The people of Swindon took to the streets to protest against plans which they say could destroy their town.

Hundreds of protesters gathered at Faringdon Park during the STOP March, reports Diana Milne.

THEY couldn't have chosen a worse day.

Charles and Camilla's wedding was on the television, the streets were packed with Saturday shoppers and it looked as though it was going to rain.

But that didn't stop more than 100 protesters gathering in Faringdon Park for the start of this year's STOP March.

They came from across the town and ranged from young parents with toddlers to pensioners with walking sticks.

But one thing united them all a belief that Swindon deserves better than what it is in danger of getting.

For many protesters the proposals to build on land around Coate was the reason they joined the march.

Others were concerned about the Draft Sub Regional Spatial Strategy a plan to build another 24,000 homes over the next 20 years in Swindon.

Members of the Front Garden Action Group were there in force, while many also spoke of their fears over plans to build a tunnel under the M4, which could channel more traffic into Swindon.

As well as familiar faces from local pressure groups, the crowd was full of Swindon residents who had never campaigned before but simply felt compelled to take a stand.

Jennifer and David Miles, who live in the town centre, turned up with their children Sieth, one, and three-year-old Zander.

They moved to Swindon a year ago because of all the green areas around it.

Jennifer said: "We never wanted to live in a major city.

"We moved to Swindon because of all the wonderful countryside and parks around it.

"It would be such a shame to build on that land."

Feelings were running high as the protesters left Faringdon Park, holding banners, and walked through the Railway Village into the town centre.

Among them was Dr Chris Barry, who is the chairman of Chiseldon Parish Council.

He said: "These plans are wrong for Coate and for Swindon.

"We would be losing the whole heritage of the area and the whole point of it is not about bringing a university to Swindon, it's about the developers making some money.

"It's obvious that everybody who is here feels very strongly about it.

"There's a real sense of outrage among the crowd."

As they walked through the town centre, the marchers received shouts of support from passers-by and drivers sounded their car horns.

Martha Parry, of the Swindon Civic Trust and the New Mechanics' Preservation Trust, was delighted by the response. "There is a real cross-section of people here because there is not one person living in Swindon who is not affected by these issues," she said.

"It's time to release the energy of the people which has been repressed and frustrated for so long."

At noon the crowd reached the Civic Offices where they stuck mini placards bearing the words Swindon Together On Planning into the grass outside the building.

Then they gathered at the steps to hear speeches from the campaign leaders.

In his speech Alan Hayward, who organised the march, said: "I think people have had enough of the proposals, but most of all with not being asked what they want of the town that they live in."

Julia Drown, spoke passionately about the future of Swindon in what was her last ever public appearance before stepping down as the MP for South Swindon.

She said: "One of my biggest frustrations is in dealing with these issues.

"The mindset of the 1970s and 1980s of building on green space was the right one at the time but it's not the right one now.

"And it's up to us to persuade planners and councillors to change their mind-set."

Diana Milne