A raly against development of the Front Garden will be held days before the borough council makes its final decision on the future of the site.

The mass protest has been organised by the Front Garden Action Group (FRAG) for Sunday, November 19.

Supporters will gather at the Old Rushy Platt rail sidings on the railway path near the canal on the edge of the area.

The rally is planned for 3pm and anyone who opposes the plans will be able to sign an ongoing petition and collect free stickers.

On November 23 the council will decide whether to allocate the land for housing in the Wiltshire and Swindon joint local structure plan.

The proposal is for the Front Garden to become the next area of expansion for Swindon and 3,800 houses have been allocated for the site.

A Government directive states that 23,000 more homes need to be built in Swindon in the next decade. But, according to campaigners, the Front Garden serves as the rural buffer between Old Town and the M4.

A new football stadium has also been earmarked for the site by Terry Brady, millionaire major shareholder of Swindon Town .

Last week the debate became more heated when parts of the Front Garden flooded.

Terry King, the chairman of FRAG, said: "We are asking as many people as possible to show up to show their support against housing development on the Front Garden before the crucial Swindon Borough Council meeting.

"The Front Garden should be saved from housing development as it is one of the town's only remaining green areas and is something that benefits all of Swindon.

"The fact that parts of it flooded last week just show that this is not an area which should be developed."