The potential loss of a green space used by residents and children in Liden has mobilised opposition to the return of a planning application to use the site for housing.

Planners turned down a proposal to build two detached three-bed houses on open space next to 14 Matley Moor.

Now Regeneration South Ltd has submitted a plan for one detached house of two storeys with three bedrooms and a study as well as the usual living arrangements.

There have been nine letters submitted to planners at Swindon Borough Council against the proposal.

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One said: “This area of land has, since at least January 1980 to our knowledge,  been in use as “allocated public open space” as confirmed by your refusal letter of December 2023."

Another wrote: “The green area including the wooded embankment gives a real feeling of being on the edge of the countryside. This application removes this as beautiful green space to be enjoyed by all and replaces it with brick and concrete.”

A third said:” The area being considered has been a green space since the houses were originally built in the 1970s.

"The fact there are a small number of other green spaces, further away, does not change the fact that a resource currently available to residents will not now be available and that the character of the close will be changed by its loss. The current space is used by local residents and its existence makes the local environment better.”

Further comments both for and against the plan should be made using reference S/24/0914 by October 29.

A number of small and disparate green spaces in the Liden area have been sold in the past year or so. 

One of these was a field on White Edge Moor that had been enjoyed by the public for years. 

Fears arose when it was sold at auction for £94,000 in July last year and shortly afterwards 'no trespassing' signs were put up. 

But after a local campaign and petition to fight back against any potential development was launched, the land was resold for less than it was originally purchased for. 

Read More: Developers sell Swindon field after community starts fight to keep it

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