When it was launched a decade ago it was hailed as a groundbreaking way to combat the spiralling traffic congestion making life hell for commuters.

But there is anger among motorists at moves to close off Swindon's first ever jam-busting park and ride facility as a cash-cutting measure.

About 800 commuters have signed a petition opposing the scheme to axe the Groundwell site, which was opened amid great ceremony in 1998 by the then Transport Minister Glenda Jackson.

Swindon Borough Council says that mothballing the facility – one of two in the town – will save £331,000 a year and help prevent a huge hike in council tax.

But furious drivers predict that it will create major traffic congestion on a key route into the town centre, and also fear that once it has been closed it will never reopen.

Last night, Councillor Peter Greenhalgh, lead member for sustainability, transport and strategic planning, insisted that the decision was not a U-turn but had been forced on the council.

He said: "It's a real blow. It's very, very disappointing for us to have to do this and I fully understand the concerns of those who use it.

"We don't want to close it. It's a temporary measure. We are stopping the operation until we have funds to sustain it. However, the fact is that we are very poorly funded by the Government and we have to look at all options to cut our costs.

"Unfortunately, we have some tough decisions. It's a case of either increasing council tax or cutting costs from non-statutory services. We're not talking about thousands of cars. The average daily use is 368."

Mr Greenhalgh said he would be willing to meet users and local bus chiefs to see if there was a way of keeping the service going at zero cost to the council. During the mid 1990s, Swindon fully embraced the park and ride philosophy as way of combating appalling jams to and from the town centre during the morning and evening rush hours. The council planned several park and ride facilities with the aim of urging commuters to leave their cars at the edge of town and catch a bus to and from work.

Catering for commuters travelling to Swindon from northern suburbs, towns and villages, the £1.5 million Groundwell facility, close to the A419, was the first to open, followed by one at Croft in the south.

Plans for at three others – including sites at Junctions 15 and 16 of the M4 – never materialised for various reasons.

A protest group called Save Park And Ride Kampaign – Spark – was last month set up to oppose the closure.

Organiser Sara Spinks, of St Andrews Ridge, North Swindon, said: "Things are difficult in the current economic climate. But the service is popular and well used."

She also said the council hadn't bothered consulting users before proposing to mothball the facility. "People are extremely disappointed," she said.

Fellow Spark founder Lindsay Cathcart said: "Everyone is concerned about the impact of this proposal on traffic, congestion and the environment."

The decision to include the facility's temporary closure in Swindon's 2009/10 budget was approved by the Cabinet on Wednesday night and is expected to be ratified at a full council meeting on February 23.