Page 8 - link magazine

Redhouse Community Centre opens Question marks over future of park
conference centre

The leaseholders of Lydiard Confer- the Friends of Lydiard Park, wants
ence Centre have been given notice the council to be more forthcoming.
by Swindon Council to move out of He said: “We are perturbed as to
the building by September 2016. what is happening. If it’s going to
The Malaysian Consortium which continue as a conference centre
owns Chartridge, who currently why give notice to the current
lease the facility, have been told by tenants who were quite happy to
the council that their tenancy will stay there before a potential new
not be renewed. But the council has operator has been chosen?
not revealed yet what their plans “They aim to continue in business
Blunsdon Parish Council chairman Ian Jankinson at the new centre are for the building. and have just moved down the road
It is understood Chartridge have creating competition for whoever
Redhouse Community Centre is now have many organisations looking for bought Marsh Farm Hotel outside takes over the conference centre. It
open and in the hands of Blunsdon an opportunity to organise activities Wootton Bassett so that they can does not make commercial sense.
St Andrew Parish Council. in the building. continue their business locally. “We know that the council is in
This comes after it was announced “This is a massive way in which A council spokesman confirmed: the midst of a change programme;
that the council was the preferred the parish council continues to “The lease for the conference centre maybe this is part of that it. But
bidder to take on the lease to run bring a great service to local is coming to an end but no decision as stakeholders in the house and
the centre. people.” has been made about potential new park the Friends of Lydiard Park
Chairman Ian Jankinson said The cost of equipping the centre operators at this stage.” should be consulted and have the
the parish council is making an is included in this year’s parish However Mike Bowden, chair of opportunity to comment.”
investment in the building over precept.
the next few months. “We are North Swindon MP Justin
spending around £12,000 to equip Tomlinson said: “The community
the community centre and are centre will become a real focal
in the process of appointing an point for the local community. I’m
administrator and caretakers. sure it will be a hive of activity.”
“Redhouse, the surrounding The council is also looking for
villages and the parish have been volunteers to form a management
waiting for this centre to help to committee. If you are interested
bring a heart to the area. There is or want to book the centre itself
already pent-up demand for time contact Rachel Smith at: contact@
and space in the centre and we blunsdonparishcouncil.co.uk Lydiard Park Conference Centre, behind St Mary’s church room

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8 swindonlink.com n October 2015