OAKFIELD campus could be demolished if no other option presents itself.

So says Swindon Council leader Rod Bluh.

Speaking exclusively to the Adver he admitted that the possibility of knocking down the campus has not been discounted.

The Adver understands that the University of Bath will leave the building, in Marlowe Avenue, in two weeks' time, although no official announcement has been made.

The future of the council-owned building after that point is uncertain.

"We are exploring all options at the moment as to what to do with that building," said Coun Bluh.

"Demolition may be a prospect if all we are going to end up with is an empty building.

"The last thing I want is an abandoned building for people to vandalise.

"There is huge regeneration potential there.

"We want to consider what is best for Swindon and we will look at all the possibilities but at the moment no options have been presented to us.

"The timescale set us by the University of Bath has not been helpful."

For years the university battled for a site at Coate to develop a huge new campus, but finally abandoned its plans last February.

Since then the Gateway Partnership has continued to push ahead with revised plans, consistently claiming to be in talks with universities to replace Bath.

As reported in yesterday's Adver the partnership has now submitted a re-jigged version of the plan - including 1,500 homes as well as the university campus.

But Coun Bluh said he was still in the dark about the identity of the partnership's mystery university suitor.

He said: "If they have a university then let's hear the details."

He said that the council's concern was to uphold at least part of its promise 18, which pledges to "ensure that the special character of Coate Water is protected".

Coun Bluh said: "Clearly there is going to be development and we have got to contain it.

"A lot of people who are worried about this issue seem to think we are going to concrete over Coate Water.

"That is absolutely not the case.

"We are talking about development around the edge not about encroaching on the park.

"I think that some development around Coate would be beneficial for the area because it would bring section 106 money into the park."

Coun Bluh also said that negotiations for a town centre university were at an "advanced stage".

"What we are trying to resolve now is the funding, but I am feeling very confident about it.

"I hope that by the end of the year we will know."

Despite D-day fast approaching for the Oakfield campus, the University of Bath in Swindon website doesn't seem to have caught up.

A five-day Hollywood Special Effects course is still lined up for early August, although the Adver understands it will take place at another venue. The website also includes a section on why Swindon needs a university'.

No-one from the University of Bath was available for comment.