THE mere suggestion of building five executive-style homes near the entrance to Highworth's golf course had town councillors up in arms.

Mike Ash, Swindon Borough Council's head of housing, visited their planning meeting to discuss the possible new housing.

Mr Ash is also the executive director of a housing developer, owned entirely by SBC, which was set up to provide the borough with an extra stream of revenue.

It was in this capacity that he spoke about the proposal.

He said: "The land is owned by SBC and this is an opportunity to make a higher commercial return on this site.

"We want this company to be an exemplar developer and we just finished building our first homes on Euclid Street.

"We hope to submit planning applications in September for give four-or-five-bedroom homes on the site and, if all goes well, start construction in spring 2019.

Mr Ash was slightly taken aback by the rather hostile response to the idea.

Coun Angela Durrant said: "I'm shocked and appalled by this proposal.

"It's not in the Neighbourhood Plan and it's on the most inappropriate site I can think of.

"It seems that whatever, and it won't matter a jot what the people of Highworth say in the public consultation, because you'll go ahead and do it anyway."

Coun Gerry Adams said: "Maybe it's the in thing now to have executive housing near golf courses but it's a load of cobblers, you must be joking."

Coun Lynn Vardy said: "I don't think it's a good idea for local government to get involved in property and this is the worst place for it."

Coun Keith Smith said: "This is an aberration, it's SBC again double-crossing Highworth.

"They send along some guy - sorry Mr Ash - to bring a terrible message to us because they don't have the guts to bring the planning officer here to give us the bad news.

"They don't care a jot about the Neighbourhood Plan which we worked so hard on, and which they approved.

"It's only valuable to them so that they can ride roughshod over us."

Coun Ryan Acres said: "I feel that there should be more housing in the town, but we need small two or three-bed affordable homes for first time buyers in Highworth more than any big swanky ones."

After hearing councillor's concerns, Mr Ash said: "Well, we're taking this one step at a time, it's not certain that we will definitely submit plans in September.

"I've heard a lot this evening that I need to take back and reflect on."

It was Coun Maureen Penny's idea to bring Mike into what she called "the lion's den" to discuss the plans at such an early stage.