A WOMAN who fears the loss of a park has hit out at the council’s artificial turf plans.

Mum-of-two Julie Collins, of Shrivenham Road, fears the park she walks in three times a day with her dog, Logan, could disappear under fake turf and concrete.

Swindon Borough Council is in discussion with Swindon Town Football in the Community (STFITC) Trust about leasing a new pavilion and building a full-size artificial grass football pitch.

On Wednesday, councillors will receive an update on the plans at a cabinet meeting. They will be asked to authorise a 25-year lease for the land and a £215,000 budget to fund the works.

Julie, 54, fears it will result in the loss of an important space for dog walkers, children and wildlife.

“It gets so well used,” she said.

“There’s somebody out there all the time. It will be an awful loss to the community.”

Julie said she could not understand why the area needed another artificial turf pitch.

An all-weather pitch was built at St Joseph’s Catholic College, on Ocotal Way, in 2006.

She believes that the plans could break a covenant placed on the County Ground by the Goddard family, who donated the land to the town that stipulates the land be used for recreation purposes only.

She said: “This was supposed to be left by the Goddard family for the people of Swindon. It’s just being taken away from us.”

Julie claims that few residents have been consulted over the planned handover to STFITC Trust.

“We weren’t told about it,” Julie said. “They canvassed one side of the road, but not the other. The only way we found out about it was by speaking to everybody else about it.”

She says that a group of residents have complained to the borough council about the proposals, but are yet to hear back. “They don’t care about the residents,” Julie said.

The council says that two informal consultation events have been held, one by the STFITC Trust and another by the council. At an event in March, 105 out of 128 comments from residents and others were supportive of the proposals.

In their paper to cabinet, council officers said that it would be a condition of planning permission that the community are able to use the facilities.

Councillor Mary Martin, cabinet member for communities and place, said: “There’s a big demand for use of artificial pitches and another one will be a great addition in this central location.”

STFITC Trust say they have spent the last two years working with the council, the athletics club and the community to create the new facility.

Jon Holloway, head of the trust, said: "Over the last two years, three formal consultation events have been held with over 200 local residents attending, of which the large majority of people have been in favour of these exciting plans. We have also met with many local community groups as it has always been our intention to build a fantastic facility that will benefit the people of Swindon.

"During this comprehensive consultation period we have taken onboard the feedback from the local residents and made some significant amendments to our original plans. These have included moving the location of the building and the 3G pitch so that there remains useable green open space for dog walkers and the general public.

"The proposed Community Facility in partnership with the Swindon Harriers Athletics Club, and in the spirit of the Goddard family covenant, will offer sporting, education and family opportunities for the community of Swindon and the surrounding areas. This new facility will include an all-weather 3G pitch and Community Hub building that will further enhance football, athletics and other sporting and social opportunities in the heart of Swindon.

"We hope that the public of Swindon can get behind these ambitious plans and help create a community facility that will benefit thousands of people for many years to come."