What now ?

With Swindon Town planning a move to the Front Garden, Swindon Borough Council is set to sell the current ground to the highest bidder.

It could raise in the region of £7m and many people would like to see some of that cash ploughed back into local sporting projects.

One idea put forward is a £6m indoor athletics stadium complete with cricket nets.

The plans would thrust the town into the Premier League of sport.

Sporting facilities for the 21st century are being planned for Swindon.

Three clubs based around the County Ground have been asked to draw up a wish list of facilities they believe could push Swindon into the premier league of sporting towns.

Swindon Cricket Club, Harriers Athletics and County Ground Bowls have all been asked to submit their plans, hopes and dreams for the future.

Swindon Council has boldly stepped out to ask the experts what facilities they want to see in the town.

The impending sale of the County Ground football stadium could snare a windfall of about £6-7m for the council and many would like to see a large sum of it ploughed back into the local sporting scene.

Current lease holders Swindon Town FC want to move to a new, all-purpose, all-seater stadium on the Front Garden.

Should their plans get the go-ahead then the council will look for the highest bidder as it sells the old ground.

A meeting was called by the council to start the process of a feasibility study.

The borough's deputy leader Coun Derek Benfield said there was now an ideal opportunity to provide the town with state-of-the-art facilities.

Coun Benfield said: "When the football club relocates then obviously we should be receiving some funds from that. The council may want to improve the facilities that are around the County Ground. It is an essential site.

"It would be ideal to keep sporting facilities on this site because of its easy access for the hotbed of talent that lives in the area."

He said the meeting was the first step along a very long road. "The whole idea was to open discussions with the three users of the County Ground and get some ideas from them on what their requirements are for the future," he said.

"There was no commitment given by the council that any of these requirements would be carried out. It was simply a consulting process. When that football ground goes and the site has been developed we want to have something to show for it.

"We want to get something out of this and give it back to the sporting people of Swindon."

Information submitted during the meeting will be taken away by the director of Swindon Services John Short, who will report back on feasibility, cost and further options.

The council does not know exactly how much of the County Ground site will be used for development.

Two options are now being looked at.

One which sees only the football ground used; and

Another which also includes part of the County Ground extension.

Coun John Taylor (Lab, Central) has responsibility for healthy living in Swindon. He is excited by the prospect of new sporting facilities in the town.

"The whole tone of the meeting was to ensure that there was a commitment to stay at the County Ground, to co-exist with whatever goes in there if the area is sold for development," he said.

"There were very positive comments made about future developments on the site, including sports facilities for all three groups. That could include joint facilities, new buildings, sports arenas, running tracks or function halls. We asked them to give us a wish list and they came up with some exciting ideas.

"We are extremely proud of the efforts of our sportsmen and women and we want to provide them with better facilities. We have to grasp this opportunity."

Mr Short will report in January.

1:The County Ground: Site would be sold to the highest bidder for development if club moves to Front Garden

2:Swindon CC: Ground with one wicket and Grade Two listed pavilion. Club would like new building and a second wicket.

3:Extra development: Part of the County Ground extension could also be developed. If not it could house the second cricket pitch.

4:Indoor athletics track: Swindon Harriers want to build a £6m indoor facility with conference, bar and other sporting facilities. Could also include cricket nets.

5:Athletics track: Harriers hope the new stadium will include a stand for the outdoor track, toilets and changing rooms. They also want to turn the running track into eight lanes.

6:Bowls club: Want to build a new, larger pavilion to host meetings.