Highworth: Plans to turn golf course into country park

The site is owned by the borough council

A former golf course could become a new country park if councillors approve.

Plans for the park at the old Highworth Golf Course will be debated and voted on by councillors in Swindon next week.

If voted through, the site would become the borough's sixth country park.

Part of the site was previously found suitable to build 350 houses as part of Swindon's future local plan, but a successful local campaign saw that allocation removed, and that plan is being revised.

The site is owned by Swindon Borough Council, and the motion to turn the old golf course into a country park was put forward by councillors Vijay Manro and Steve Weisinger, who represent Highworth.

Councillor Manro said: "We know housing is needed, not just here in Swindon but across the country but it needs to be in the right place. Highworth doesn't need any more housing - it has enough."

He added: "What local people need is a protected country park that they can enjoy in perpetuity."