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Community News

The future of Lydiard up for debate

Set within serene landscaped past two years the south tower
gardens, the palladian house at has been subsiding causing serious
Lydiard sits dearly in the heart of structural damage that could cost a
many of Swindon’s residents. fortune to put right. I would like to
So it is easy to understand know if this is something that the
why the people of the town are council is aware of.”
fearful for its future with Swindon Cllr Perkins said: “Obviously we’ll
Council’s cabinet having put the be carrying out a full survey of
running of the site out to tender in the site as part of the process and
early February. anything like that will come out
But it has also been revealed that as part of that. As it is we will be
there is heavy subsidence to the giving the winning bidder a reverse Councillor Garry Perkins in full flow during Swindon Link’s Lydiard Park debate
south tower and other structural premium of £860,000 to take care
needs which could come at a huge of any work that needs doing more bidders,” added Cllr Perkins.
cost for whoever takes it over. “I do need to emphasise that Organisations have from now until
On 15 February, Swindon Link Swindon Council will still own the May to put in a bid with the council
hosted a public debate at its offices site and it will still belong to the due to decide in June and the
at Arclite House in Peatmoor to people of Swindon. running of the park to be taken over
discuss the future of the site - a “I cannot say what the length of in September.
week after the cabinet decision. the leasehold will be as that will Cllr Robbins said: “Lydiard Park is
The meeting was chaired by form part of the negotiations.” owned by the people of Swindon
Swindon Link group editor Jamie It was revealed at the meeting and its running should stay in From left - meeting chair Jamie Hill,
Hill with a panel made up of that only two out of the nine the hands of the council. Central councillor Garry Perkins, councillor
Garry Perkins, cabinet member expressions of interest were for Government has just announced Jim Robbins and Mike Bowden
for culture, Jim Robbins, shadow running the whole site and they £1.6 million of transitional funding
Labour culture spokesperson and were Twigmarket, who run Broome for Swindon. We would back down Mr Bowden said: “I believe that
Mike Bowden, the chair of Friends Manor, and the aforementioned from this whole process and other using the talent in this town the
of Lydiard Park - a group set up 54 charitable trust bid. The other services that are up for cuts and public bid that we are putting
years ago to safeguard the site’s bidders were for parts of the site use that money to find different together will definitely be the best
heritage and who are spearheading like the conference centre, catering solutions.” bid on the table. We will be doing
a community charitable trust bid. facilities and car parking. Swindon Council is also planning all we can to ensure Lydiard’s
At the meeting Mr Bowden said: “It is still very early days and now to introduce parking charges at future and any profits will be going
“We have had an architect look that the formal process has started Lydiard and Coate Water over the directly back into Lydiard and not
over the main house and over the there could definitely end up being summer. into shareholders’ pockets.”

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swindonlink.com n March 2016 5