A TORY councillor is calling for West Swindon to have its own parish council as he does not believe enough is being done for the community.

Douglas Stewart, who represents the Shaw and Nine Elms ward at Swindon Council, is calling for the change because he fears the authority might renege on a deal to use an area of land for community use.

A briefing note is currently doing the rounds at the council suggesting that two acres of land between the Shaw Methodist Church and the Village Inn in Ramleaze Drive, should be sold to developers despite the land being designated for a community centre in the local plan.

Coun Stewart claims that residents have to pay a special dispensation to the borough council to act as its parish council on top of their council tax but he has no idea where the money goes.

He said: "As far as most councillors will be concerned this briefing note proposes a fast way of getting the council a bit of money. This is not in the interest of the people of West Swindon at all.

Council spokesman Gavin Calthrop said: "This bit of land would have been assessed as part of the asset management review.

"Basically, to create a parish council, all someone has to do is put together a petition of 250 residents signatures or 10 per cent of the electorate, whichever is the greater, and we have to consider it."