PLANS to keep the rural buffer between Swindon and Wootton Bassett have been attacked by Swindon Borough Council.

The borough council has lodged an official objection to the North Wiltshire Local Plan, which lays out how many houses can be built in the district between now and 2011.

It says the plan does not take into account the housing needs of the area.

And it says that keeping the rural buffer intact will mean not enough houses will be provided for north Wiltshire residents, resulting in pressure on Swindon to provide more houses.

It also claims that North Wiltshire District Council has over-estimated the amount of space needed for new businesses.

A North Wiltshire District Council spokesman said: "I was surprised at Swindon's objections, especially as Wiltshire County Council has already confirmed that our plans are in line with the overall structure plan for the whole county.

"Swindon says we need at least another 1,350 houses to meet housing needs, and that we need up to 33 hectares less employment land.

"One of the key planning issues in north Wiltshire is the high proportion of out-commuting from towns like Wootton Bassett and Cricklade and Purton to jobs in Swindon, Bristol or Bath.

"Our plans will increase the opportunities for people to live and work in these towns, and therefore reduce the number of people who need to travel long distances to work.

"The rural buffer is of great concern to North Wiltshire District Council, and we have managed to allocate all the extra housing we need without encroaching on to greenfield sites.

"If we are required to provide an additional 1,350 dwellings this would place extreme pressure on the council to allocate new greenfield land for housing."

Protecting the rural buffer and stopping towns like Cricklade, Purton and Wootton Bassett from becoming swallowed up in the urban sprawl of Swindon is a major concern for North Wiltshire District Council.

The spokesman added: "I agree with the borough council's general assessment that the rural buffer is there to protect our existing market towns and villages from the expansion of Swindon.

"However, I do not know why they are objecting to land to the west of Wootton Bassett, Purton and Cricklade being included in the rural buffers as this is not the case.

"A small area of land between Lydiard Millicent and the Wootton Bassett to Purton road to the west of the village is included in the buffer but this does not represent a significant portion of land."

North Wiltshire is still consulting on its local plan.

If its differences with Swindon Borough Council cannot be solved, there will be a public inquiry.