A MEETING intended to give residents an early input into an exciting archaeological project descended into a finger-pointing squabble last night.

More than 60 people turned up at a presentation by Bristol-based Land Use Consultants to hear initial plans for developing an ancient Roman temple complex in Abbey Meads.

But the company was accused of putting together a "half-cocked" presentation, with no clear way forward mapped out.

The 1,800-year-old underground site was discovered five years ago by workmen and saved from the hands of developers through an Evening Advertiser campaign.

The consultants were appointed last October by Swindon Council to look into how the 10-acre site supposedly one of the best-preserved Roman sites in the country could be used as an educational attraction.

At last night's public meeting at Christ the Servant Church in Elstree Way, two of the consultants attempted to explain the ideas they had come up with and gauge the views of their audience.

Resource planner Peter Nelson outlined how, to minimise disruption to residents, his team envisages the site itself remaining fairly low key, with a few display boards and a webcam housed in a small tower.

He explained how they are keen for it to remain a local open space, but said they remained undecided on whether or not parts of the site should be excavated in any way.

The full story of the complex would be told at a visitor centre located near Asda Walmart, with guided tours provided for schools, archaeology students and tourists. Mr Nelson claimed the number of visitors was unlikely to exceed 30,000 a year.

But the consultants who must hand their report on the site to the council within a month were soon under fire from a throng of unimpressed residents, many of whom were worried about how the attraction might cause traffic, parking and vandalism problems.

Many said they had hoped for a choice of options to be presented.

One man said: "You came here to hear our views, but we can't give our opinions because we don't have any proposals in front of us."

Another said: "I'm worried you're not going to do a proper job on this. It needs a proper visitor centre, not a small office in the corner of the district centre 15 minutes walk away."

Swindon Council landscape officer Ed Stanford eventually stepped in to halt the onslaught.

He explained that, while councillors will soon debate what to do with the site, any proposed scheme must go through the planning process and will be subject to further public debate.

He said: "This is a particularly difficult and sensitive site without any obvious solution."

Civil servant Paul Nettle, from Ashbrake, said: "I was part of the original campaign to save the site from the bulldozers and I'm very keen to see it properly excavated for a short period. But they shouldn't open it up permanently, because it is too close to a residential area."

Abbey Meads councillor, Justin Tomlinson (Con) said: "This is a potentially exciting attraction, but we need to achieve a balance between promoting the site and protecting the residents from unnecessary disturbance and I will do my best to ensure their views are heard."