LADY Lane looks set to remain closed for good. The road, which links Haydon Wick in north Swindon with Blunsdon, closed temporarily at the end of May to allow contractors to put in services for a new primary school.

Although the work was completed on schedule, the road did not re-open as expected at the end of August.

Now Swindon Council is proposing to keep the lane closed to cars for good but maintain it as a footpath and bridleway.

The proposed closure has attracted criticism.

Barbara Telford, company director of bus firm Cross Country Coaches, said: "The temporary closure to allow for the building of the new school has already affected our business."

She said three buses on school contracts use Lady Lane to travel to West Swindon from the Cross Country depot in Castle Eaton.

The closure of the road will, she said, add 1,596 miles to their journeys each year.

She said: "Fuel consumption and resultant air pollution is not environmentally friendly."

Some Blunsdon residents have also signalled their opposition to the planned closure.

Anthony Wilson, who lives at Berton Close, said: "I have lived in Blunsdon for nearly a quarter of a century and have regularly used Lady Lane.

"The closure of the road will cause me considerable inconvenience."

For the majority of traffic the A419 and the new Northern Orbital Road will be the alternative route to Lady Lane.

The road's closure is being supported by community groups such as Lady Lane Campaign Group and Ash Brake Community Association.

Bob Sanders, from Swindon Council Environmental Services Department, said the closure of Lady Lane has been on the agenda since 1989 when it formed part of the Haydon Sector master plan.

He said it was decided to keep the road closed now rather than re-open it again only to have to close it again in a few months' time.

He added: "Although it will lead to longer journeys for some people living nearby it is a question of looking at the greater good."

The continuing closure of Lady Lane will also allow construction traffic to use it to access the new primary school.

Wiltshire Police say it would be dangerous to access the primary school site from Lady Lane if it were still open to cars.