ALTHOUGH it is early days, more than 6,500 people have signed the Save Coate! petition that calls upon Swindon Borough Council to protect the countryside around Coate Water Country Park.
Most signatures have been collected in the last few weeks at the cafe.
Visitors have expressed horror that this special place could be surrounded by buildings.
Swindon Borough Council received more objections to its proposal to earmark all the land between Coate Water, the hospital and the motorway for development than to any other town plan change.
So far, our representations have fallen on deaf ears in the borough's planning office.
If you haven't visited Coate Water for a while and you have forgotten its importance to people and wildlife, do take another look.
When you needed Coate Water it was there.
Now Coate needs you to say no to development.
JEAN SAUNDERS
Faringdon
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