Hurry up!

And North Swindon MP Mr Wills revealed he was "losing patience" as the "dilly and dallying" continued while the £200 million campus prospects fried on the back-burner.

Swindon Council leader Mike Bawden (Con, Old Town and Lawns) believes that a new University of Bath campus in Swindon would be the "greatest development in the history of the town since Brunel brought the railway and its workshops".

Echoing Mr Wills' sentiments, he warned: "Future generations will never forgive us if we allow this opportunity to slip through our fingers. Failure isn't an option. It has to happen."

The political will is there at the Swindon end, but that is where the drive and enthusiasm ends, according to Mr Wills, whose frustration is intensifying daily.

"Time is running out," said Mr Wills.

"If something isn't finalised pretty promptly, then I can see the Government funding another university elsewhere and we shall look stupid and I'll be sickened.

"There isn't a limitless pot of money with central government for this kind of high profile project. There's a lot of pressure on what money is available and there's a growing queue of bidders. The longer the indecision goes on, the further back we fall in the queue."

In a desperate attempt to inject fresh impetus to the initiative, Mr Wills is inviting the major players to a joint meeting in the House of Commons early in the New Year.

"I want everyone around the same table so that the issue can be thrashed out and resolved there and then, however long it takes," said Mr Wills bullishly.

The stumbling block in the MP's view is the "ambivalence" of the South West Regional Development Agency (RDA) and the South West Government Office.

South West RDA spokeswoman Katherine Haines said: "Earlier this year the RDA agreed to provide £100,000 funding to help the University of Bath develop a business plan presenting the case to Government for a two-centre presence in Swindon."

And Philip Watkins, the RDA head of operations for Swindon and Wiltshire, commented: "While we have allocated money to help the University of Bath development plans for the town centre faculty, the RDA is not a primary funder for education establishments."

However, the Advertiser can disclose that Mr Wills has already fired off a broadside to the RDA, warning of the dire consequences if the new campus is lost to Swindon.

For Government approval, it is essential to have robust backing from the RDA.

The Swindon Local Plan was controversially amended to allow for the development at Coate Water near the Great Western Hospital.

"My view is that if we want a really world-class university, it has to be on the site of choice," said Mr Wills.

"The longer the faffing goes on, the less chance of the money being found for Swindon. I can see it slipping away.

"As it is, the campus wouldn't be completed until around 2015."

The RDA is committed to the regeneration of Swindon town centre, where, according to Mr Wills, it would prefer a new university campus to be built.

This is hinted at in the RDA statement that refers to backing "a town centre faculty".

But Prof Glynis Breakwell, the university's vice chancellor, is convinced that the right place is near the hospital.

She "absolutely welcomed" the idea of a round-the-table, brain-storming meeting at the House of Commons.

But her reaction to the RDA was cool. "They have been of some help, but I am very disappointed they appear to be trying to nudge us towards the town centre, rather than in the direction we wish to go."

"We can't dictate to the university where to go," said Mr Wills, a point endorsed by Coun Bawden.

"If we don't provide the place of choice, then they will simply look to another town or city and we'll be the all-time losers.

"I want all involved parties around a table at the Commons so that the problems can be flushed out in one hit."

Mr Wills fears that if the issue is not finalised before the next General Election, which is probably no longer than 18 months away, then "we can forget it".

The only way to guarantee the kind of funding necessary is for the university to promote itself as a pioneer in some area of specialisation, such as manufacturing and engineering, which would be appropriate for Swindon.

Diary of events

October 1999 - The University of Bath announces plans to establish a presence in Swindon.

2000 - The University of Bath established its first presence in Swindon when students were admitted to the former Oakfield School premises in East Walcot. Since then more than 3,500 have studied there.The preferred site for a new purpose-built campus, which will cost around £200 million, accommodate 8,000 students and be ready for 2007, is identified on land at Commonhead by junction 15 of the M4. It is described as the most important development for the town since Isambard Kingdom Brunel decided to locate his GWR works in Swindon in the mid 19th century, but angers environmental groups.

February 2003 - University vice chancellor Glynis Breakwell travels to Westminster to meet Margaret Hodge - the Government minister for lifelong learning and higher education - and receives a favourable reception to plans.

November 2003 - Rival plans to the Commonhead site are unveiled by David Wilson Estates who announced they want to build a 'Cole Campus' on a 400-acre site along the River Cole valley, south of the A420 and east of the A419.

December 2003 - North Swindon MP and University of Bath in Swindon campaigner, Michael Wills, says he is losing patience with key players in the bid "dilly dallying and faffing around" and warns the development could be lost if progress is not made - soon.