THERE can be no argument that taxpayers' money is better spent on more pressing priorities than pioneering Home Zones, a councillor says.

Dr Owen Lister (Con, Abbey Meads) says there is a catalogue of outstanding work that needs to be done to schools, roads, nursing homes and other public amenities across the borough that come way up the list of priorities before Home Zones.

Home Zones have captured the imagination of residents and councillors alike since they were first dreamt up last year.

Pioneered in Utrecht in Holland, Home Zones aim to reclaim the streets to promote a better community spirit and stamp out places of urban disease such as prostitution, anti-social behaviour and drug abuse.

Swindon Council is embarking on a £5,000 study into the possibility of building a Home Zone in the Broad Street area of central Swindon a district that has been plagued by prostitution and drugs.

But Dr Lister said: "Home Zones are an interesting concept, but not among the list of priorities we need to address.

"It's ridiculous to expect the people of Swindon to fund another 15 per cent rise in council tax next year.

"It's unreasonable that people should fork out this kind of money, Dr Lister added.

"When I was out canvassing during the elections, in May, many people complained about the state of the roads. One of the mistakes Swindon Council has made in the last 20 years has been prioritising the way ratepayers' money is spent."

Home Zones do not come cheap some estimates put the cost of pedestrianising streets at as much as £10,000 a metre and the Broad Street Home Zone would cost £1 million to fund.

Although European social funding and the South West Redevelopment Ag-ency could meet some of the cost, taxpayers and the council would have to finance the majority.

At the Area Panel West meeting on Tuesday night there was no shortage of suggestions for Home Zones.

Former council leader Kevin Small (Lab, Western) said he had many places in mind but questioned the justifications for it.

But he added: "Last year £100,000 was spent repaving areas of Rodbourne and that has done a lot for community enhancement."