Ref. 30117-7RESIDENTS protesting against plans for Swindon Town's new stadium say their campaign is now gathering pace.

About 20 people spent the weekend delivering flyers to more than 5,000 homes across West Swindon and they are only halfway through their proposed workload.

Organiser Alan Hayward, of Sparcells, who says he would be living in the shadow of the stadium if it is built, is spearheading the campaign.

He started the Swindon Forest Protection Group whose catchline is Forest Not Stadium when he first heard about the club's plans.

The 44-year-old father-of-four said: "The club dropped this bombshell on us and I felt compelled to act."

The club hopes to build a 22,000 all-seater stadium on land near Sparcells which is currently part of the Great Western Forest.

When Alan, an IT consultant, first heard about the plans he distributed posters single-handedly.

But he had such a strong response that he set up a campaign group.

The group plans to stage a protest on Saturday along Mead Way to show how traffic might be affected by match day crowds if the plans go ahead.

Alan said: "The group has so much support now. I was overwhelmed by the response. We are expecting a great turnout on Saturday and I am very hopeful we can stop these proposals.

"It's not that we're against Swindon Town or football, it's just that we believe this is the wrong location for a 22,000 all-seater stadium.

"The residents of the area enjoy a peaceful neighbourhood, this stadium would be a monstrosity.

"More than 46,000 trees have been planted in this time. We should not be bulldozing them."

The council has previously organised a number of tree planting sessions at the site and some people have even planted trees in memory of loved ones there.

Mr Hayward's garden backs on to the forest and he says he regularly sees wildlife, including deer, badgers, owls, rabbits and protected species of birds.

But Swindon Town chief executive Mark Devlin has urged the public to keep an open mind about the proposals.

He said: "Hopefully people will make full use of this opportunity to engage in the consultation process and examine in more detail what is being proposed.

"I think some of the views expressed have been based on raw emotion so far.

"This public consultation is a chance for people to talk to those involved in the scheme and to ask questions.

"All we asked at the start was for people to keep something of an open mind until they had the chance to view for themselves what is being proposed. That remains the case.

"It's not just about Swindon Town FC, the stadium would be one part of the sports village which would benefit the whole town."

As the public consultation period begins on Thursday hundreds of people are expected to attend the meeting, which will be residents' first chance to view the plans.

St Modwen, the developer involved will be holding the meeting at Roughmoor Social Hall, Swinley Drive, Peatmoor, from 2pm to 8pm.

There will be another presentation at the County Ground on May 6, from 1pm to 8pm.

You can visit the Swindon Forest Protection Group's website at www.sfpg.org.uk

Emma-Kate Lidbury