SWINDON'S future could be decided by an unaccountable talking shop which ignores the town, according to local politicians.

The South West Regional Assembly is currently looking at whether Swindon will have to find space for an extra 24,000 homes between 2016 and 2026.

But it is not elected and two politicians who serve on the assembly say Swindon gets 'stuffed' by the body.

Since September the assembly has been responsible for planning the region's development sparking fears Swindon could come off badly.

Labour councillor Kevin Small, who represents Western ward on Swindon Council, sits on the assembly.

"As someone from Swindon I have got concerns because I think we will see the rural areas ganging up on the urban areas," he said. "I don't think we will be treated fairly.

"Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset seem to dominate the agenda. Being on the extremity I feel we do lose out.

"The rural councils have always been very well organised in ensuring the protection of their areas. While we support development and expansion of our town we want to make sure it is not over-developed.

"We have all got our local agendas and you take it into a big arena. There are more rural ones than urban ones so we get stuffed."

Coun Small, who does believe in regional government, said that a new region created along the M4 corridor might represent Swindon's interests better as the town had more in common with places like Reading and Bristol.

Council leader Coun Mike Bawden has been a member of the assembly which is given £2m from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister each year since 2000.

"I have got considerable reservations," he said. "I don't like self-appointed quangos, which is what it is.

"But there is no point in us digging our heads in the sand and saying regional assemblies don't exist."

He explained that while Swindon used to decide with Wiltshire on where houses would be built in the future this would now by done with the regional assembly.

The assembly will set out the region's development plan for 2006-2026, which could involve telling Swindon it needs to find room for another 24,000 homes.

Meetings have been held to consult local people but the decision will be made by the assembly which worries the Swindon Council leader.

"Now the regional assembly will say okay Swindon, we think you ought to have x number of houses," Coun Bawden said.

"The vast majority of them don't even understand what is going on in Swindon.

"My view is that the regional assembly will vote for Swindon to take more houses. The balance of power will stuff the big unitary councils like Swindon."

Decisions on Coate Water and the Front Garden would be some of the last decisions to be made under the old system, Coun Bawdenthought.

Coun Chris Shepherd, who also serves on the assembly, said he believed in devolving power but would like to see the assembly directly elected.

It was helpful to get a wider perspective and an appreciation of areas outside Swindon, he added.

But other local politicians have a poor view of the assembly.

Coun Justin Tomlinson, who will stand for the Conservatives in North Swindon at the next election, said: "The residents of the north east threw out Labour's plans for a regional assembly, yet here in the south west we are stuck with the unelected, unaccountable talking shop.

"The Labour Government is hell bent on forcing an extra 24,000 on to Swindon's green open spaces.

"We as locally elected representative should be able to stand up to the Labour bulldozers, however this transfer of decision making to the unelected, unaccountable regional assembly will totally remove local influence."

Anne Snelgrove, who will stand for Labour in South Swindon, said the assembly did have positive elements but agreed that Swindon was not central to its concerns.

"I would like to see a much more positive stance from the regional assembly in promoting Swindon not ignoring us," she said.

Public exhibitions have been held in the Swindon area over recent weeks about what would happen if Swindon is chosen by the assembly for 24,000 homes and to seek residents' views.

Copies of a consultation document are available from Forward Planning, Swindon Borough Council, Premier House, Station Road, Swindon SN1 1TZ, libraries or www. swindon.gov.uk

Isabel Reid