PROPOSALS to establish a parish council in Eastcott have been ruled out, at least for now, by a cross-party group at Swindon Council which is leading a review into the future parish arrangements in the borough.

Coun Dave Wood (Lib Dem, Eastcott), who wrote to back the plan, said several residents told him they would like a new statutory authority in the area to improve local services and democratic representation.

And a public proposal was put forward in a consultation as part of the community governance review.

However, council leader Rod Bluh, said: “This was not recommended by the corporate governance working party because no substantive evidence has yet been put forward that would demonstrate that this would secure more effective and convenient community governance within that area or better reflect the identities and interests of the community in that area.

“On the assumption that cabinet adopt the recommendations of the working party, the local community will have another chance to make representations at the next stage in the community governance review following publication of the council’s proposals.”

Coun Jim Grant, Labour group leader, said: “The problem that this idea came up against was that it would likely mean residents paying more in their council tax in order to receive the same service.

With that in mind, we felt this wasn’t something people in places like Eastcott would want.”