Locals have been reacting to the news that a retail park could be built next to the A420 in Swindon after the land was bought for development.

The site, opposite Gablecross police station and next door to the Sainsbury’s on the A420 Oxford Road, not far from the Amazon warehouse at Symmetry Park, was bought by RO Group.

While the blueprint for the development is the group’s Solstice Park development in Amesbury, which features McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Asda and a Holiday Inn, Adver readers have taken to Facebook to share what they would prefer to see the 9.7-acre land being used for.

Sarah Bedwell said: “Revamp the town centre and build another hospital. We don’t need more retail parks, we need a hospital that can cope with the number of people in Swindon and a town centre that people are willing to visit and shop in.”

Leanne Newman commented: “Why not put the retail in our town centre? Got plenty of empty shops and buildings, bring our town back to life as it’s dead right now.”

READ MORE: Land bought next to A420 in Swindon for 'new retail park'

Martin Campbell added: “Plenty cars pass that area slowly as it’s poorly planned for the volume of traffic… fix the issues with the area first or it will fail. No one wants to spend an hour commuting to the shops.”

Verity Yates agreed, commenting: “Yeah right next to Amazon. Traffic is bad enough trying to get out, now you want more traffic! When’s the new road opening up first?”

Home Farm, outlined in red, the potential future shopping site near SwindonHome Farm, outlined in red, the potential future shopping site near Swindon (Image: RO Group)

Meanwhile, other commenters suggested building a shopping mall similar to Cribbs Causeway in Bristol, a waterpark, a swimming pool, a speedway track and shops like Ikea and Zara.

Paul Godfrey said: “Everyone saying shops are needed in the town centre don’t realise that it’s pointless. There’s nowhere to park and when you do find somewhere, it’s expensive.

“That’s why the town centre is dead along with the lack of decent shops. All the retail parks around Swindon are free parking for up to three hours.”

Dean Kershaw-Evans added: “It’s all very well people saying get the town centre sorted first, well these retail parks have been around for years and for me they are still the way forward.

“If people want a town centre then start going now to help rebuild it as a place for everyone to go. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.”