THE SOUTH WEST REGIONAL ASSEMBLY:

WE ARE not a faceless quango that is the message from the regional assembly itself.

Bryony Houlden, chief executive of the assembly, is keen to point out the benefits of the body.

"I think the key point to make is that at the moment the assembly is a voluntary partnership body, because people across the south west want to be there," she said.

"I think it is a big benefit in the south west and Swindon is a key part of the south west because the region tends to be overlooked by government.

"But if you have got an organisation that represents five million people that lobbies for something it can really make a difference."

She explained that the assembly was funding work to look at how Swindon should develop and that the assembly could help give local councils more say in government planning decisions.

"We can involve local authorities in a major piece of government planning. In the past it has been the government saying this is what is going to happen."

Local authorities are carrying out studies on how best to handle growth, which will be reported to the assembly in March.

The assembly will come up with the strategy and consult councils again before a draft to the Deputy Prime Minister.