Scores of Highworth residents packed the council chamber to let members of Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet know how they feel about the prospect of the town’s Old Golf Course seeing houses built upon it.

Since golf operations on the course south of the hilltop town ceased in 2019 the nine-hole course off the A361 has been used as an open green space by  many people from the town.

Highworth Town Council wants to take on the land and use it as a country park and wildlife reserve - a motion put to Swindon Borough Council suggested that the authority sell the land to the town council for £1 for that purpose.

The borough council’s cabinet met to discuss a report which said that would fall foul of legislation requiring the council get best value from its assets.

It recommended officers and consultants work up three options: one would see the whole site become a country park, another option would see 60 per cent as park and 40 per cent used for 500 houses, while another would see 700 houses on 60 per cent for the site and 40 per cent used for  a country park.

Before that report could be discussed, the Highworth residents made their feelings known during an extended public questions session that lasted ninety minutes.

The mayor of Highworth Julie Murphy said: “There are 3,700 houses in Highworth and we are already to take another 1,000. That’s a 27 per cent increase.

“The infrastructure is not there to support that growth. Isn’t it enough?”

As well as concern about traffic, many of the public’s contributions were about the social value of the open space. One resident drew applause when she said: “How will you quantify the health and social value of having the space –will you value that compared to bricks and mortar?”

April Thrush, who had organised a coach to take many of the people from Highworth to the meeting, said: “I might have described it as a battle bus, but we don’t want a battle. We want a good relationship with the council and want to work with you.”

The cabinet member for finance councillor Kevin Small did most of the work to answer questions.

He said: “We will be getting professional advice from officers and outside companies.

“This council is not in a good financial state so we have to take all factors into consideration, both the financial value and the social value of the site.”

Members of the cabinet approved the report and the three options will be developed with a report expected back to cabinet in autumn.