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Community News

Let battle commence - The bids are in for Lydiard Park and House

Five bids have been submitted to His great-granddaughter Gina
Swindon Borough Council to run Akers said: “We wanted to be sure
Lydiard House and Park. that a community bid puts the
They are made up of two people’s interests first and truly
community-led proposals and one reflects my great-grandfather’s
commercial bid to take over the intentions for Lydiard.”
running of the entire site and two Mike Bowden of The Lydiard Park
bids interested in just part of the Heritage Trust said: “We are sure
site. that ours is the best bid out there
The community bids are a staff- and answers every single one of the
led bid and a bid by The Lydiard criteria put forward by the council.
Park Heritage Trust. It is understood “There has always been massive
that the commercial bid is from public support for Lydiard to stay
Twigmarket who currently run in the hands of a community group
Broome Manor Golf Club. rather than a private company. Our Picture by Gavin Baker
The council agreed in February bid will ensure that the access,
to invite formal bids to run the landscape and house are protected
park with the aim of reducing the for future generations at the same
£458,000 annual subsidy. time as making it viable.”
The staff-led bid is made up The bids will now be scored
of the staff management team against a set of criteria by the
who said in a statement: “We are council and either a preferred
passionate about Lydiard, and this bidder will be presented to cabinet,
is a fantastic opportunity to make or they will be asked to carry out ,
Lydiard an even better destination due diligence on a range of bidders,
for our visitors, re-investing and at its meeting on 7 September.
developing the offerings for a The two community organisations
memorable day out.” have until 3 August to write a
The bid is supported by the Akers separate letter to the council
family, who were instrumental in under the Localism Act to trigger
making Lydiard a public asset after a six-month moratorium that will
councillor Francis Elliot Akers gifted see the whole process delayed so
Lydiard House for the benefit of the community organisations can get
community in 1943. themselves organised.

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