This is the man whose party holds the key as to whether the Front Garden is developed for housing.

But Mike Bawden is still unable to reveal whether his Conservative colleagues will back plans to build 3,800 homes on the green field site between Swindon and the M4 motorway.

The borough's Labour group has already voiced its support for the development, while the Liberal Democrats have announced that they are adamantly opposed to housing on the rural buffer.

This leaves the final decision in the hands of the Tories, who will not decide how to vote until 6pm tonight - just one hour before the borough's full council meets to decide whether to earmark the Front Garden for development as part of the Wiltshire and Swindon Local Structure Plan.

The Conservatives fought the May local elections on a manifesto which opposed development on the Front Garden.

But Coun Bawden said he now had to take into account the views of 18 new Tory members voted onto the council in the election, many of whom represent areas which may face development if the Garden is ruled out.

Coun Bawden said: "We had a group meeting on Tuesday night where an intense discussion was held on how we would vote.

"But not all of our members were there, so it is tonight's meeting where we will decide. I will be voting against the development personally as I promised before the local elections."