IT is good news that the Leader of Swindon Borough Council has accepted the argument of Wroughton Parish Council that the planning authority has a potential 'clear and significant conflict of interest' when considering any planning application the Front Garden

Whatever John Prescott decides in respect to calling in the application, it is now clear that the planning committee meeting on January 24 has little choice but to reject or postpone consideration of this matter until at least 2006, when the Local Plan is finally adopted.

Developers will then be under pressure to actually build the 5,000 homes that are required to complete the Northern Development Area and to make use of the 8000 brownfield housing opportunities.

The people of Swindon should be able to choose - whether they want the urban area regenerated or a greenfield sprawl that benefits nobody apart from a few developers.

Coun JOHN F NEWMAN

Wroughton Parish Council representative on Area Panel (South)

Wroughton