Ref. 30799-24 Swindon resident Chris LowryPlans to bulldoze Shaw Community Forest to make way for a new football stadium have been dealt a blow by Swindon's political leaders.

Council leader Mike Bawden has said he would not vote for the proposal as it stood.

Labour top dog Kevin Small said if the council voted on the issue tomorrow it would be rejected.

Lib Dem chief Mike Evemy said his party did not support the proposals either.

And Green Party speaker Bill Hughes described the scheme as disgraceful.

The leaders were speaking at the Evening Advertiser's Election Question Time last night at Drove Primary School, ahead of Thursday's local ballot.

Coun Bawden (Con, Old Town and Lawn) said they had underestimated the strength of feeling against the stadium being built on the Shaw forest.

"We knew this sort of thing would come up, but what we didn't know was the degree to which the residents felt about it," he told the audience.

When pressed on what he would do if the plan came to a vote at council, he said: "I don't know what the proposal is going to be, but were I voting for the scheme as it currently is, I would not vote for the existing proposal that has been sketched out."

And Coun Small (Lab, Western) said: "I haven't made my mind up, but if there was a vote tomorrow I think it would be voted down."

When the stadium plan was put to a vote in the audience, not one hand was raised in support.

All three leaders of the main parties maintain the position that they cannot pre-judge a planning application that has not yet been made.

But their comments will cheer opponents of the controversial plan, who marched in Swindon at the weekend in protest at development on the town's green spaces.

The Election Question Time, chaired by BBC Swindon's Peter Heaton-Jones, covered a wide range of issues from parish councils to the war in Iraq.

In a final attempt to get votes before Thursday's elections, the leaders of the parties called on Swindonians for their support.

Coun Bawden said: "Vote Conservative on Thursday to give us two years to build on what we have already achieved.''

Coun Small said: "This election is a clear alternative between Tory cuts and investment in services.''

Coun Evemy said a vote for the Lib Dems is a vote to scrap the "unfair council tax which hits the poorest hardest''.

And Mr Hughes said: "Thursday is a golden opportunity to vote for a party which is not in the hands of big business.''

Evening Advertiser editor Mark Waldron, speaking after the event, said: "This was a very enjoyable evening which gave our readers the chance to put the leaders on the spot.

"The Adver has a crucial part to play in local democracy, by raising awareness and interest in the issues that affect people's lives."

Find out how the leaders answered more of your questions in tomorrow's Adver.

Andy Tate