CAMPAIGNERS fighting a bid to build hundreds of homes on a former railway sidings site, say if the plan went ahead it could cause a 'disaster' of contamination and flooding.

Developer One Swindon has lodged an application to build 368 flats and houses on land running alongside the railway line between Rodbourne Road and Wootton Bassett Road.

But nearby residents say the site is simply not suitable.

A leaflet produced by them, called Sidings Objector, says: “The site is built up ground to take the rail line over the Wootton Bassett Road Bridge. A range of waste railway materials are buried below the porous permanent way ground cover.

"Whilst the surface maybe ideal for slow worms, it is not ideal for housing. It is polluted, porous, loose and built up.”

The leaflet says there are cracks in the brick culvert carrying the River Ray under the railway line, not helped by the traffic on the line.

It says: “An examination of the culvert has found deterioration of a serious nature and any unusual disturbance or pressure around the culvert could lead to a collapse, resulting in blockage of the river and undermining the rail track.”

It says the 1840 Brunel-designed tunnel is carrying far more weight of rail traffic than it was designed for.

It adds: “The crack in the culvert is being monitored and the onus is on the applicant to demonstrate how they will prevent the impact of their development on the culvert and avert a disaster.

“The application threatens the quality of the River Ray and could impact the flood plain, fast run off could add to the flood potential and use of pooling from contaminated land could be disastrous for the water quality of the river.”

Developer One Swindon said: “Assessments of the ground conditions have been undertaken, including investigations into potential contamination sources of the ground.

“The historical use of the site by the Great Western Railway, including importation of made ground to raise the site to the level of the railway along with former buildings and railway sidings, has meant that the ground may contain heavy metals, ash, clinker and coal.

"Further assessments will continue to take place throughout the design and planning process to ensure the ground condition is taken into account.

"The land is not unstable. However, new buildings will sit upon ‘deep screwed pile’ foundations.”

The proposal would see low-rise blocks put up along the south side of the railway line behind Dean Street, Newburn Crescent, and the park alongside – the development would be a mixture of flats and houses with car access from Wootton Bassett Road.