With the six month moratorium period now closed on 22 December, a decision on which group will be handed responsibility for Lydiard Park and House is due to be announced in January.
It is understood that there are two community bids and one commercial bid for the whole site and two parties interested in running part. Swindon Borough Council will now have to announce which bid they are to accept to run the site.
Gina Akers, who is part of the Love Lydiard Trust community bid and great-granddaughter of Francis Akers, who gifted Lydiard to the people of Swindon, said: “Along with the Lydiard staff we have an extremely high calibre of trustees who have been developing high level relationships to progress the educational opportunities at Lydiard, while establishing a realistic and sustainable business plan to ensure the effective financial running of Lydiard.
“With support and input from renowned national associations, the skills from our group and the wider community, and by laying the foundations of a positive relationship with the Council we have created a sustainable model. Our bid has been carefully thought out and reasoned through to ensure it provides best chances of protecting the future of Lydiard House and Park so it can continue to be enjoyed by the community as my great-grandfather intended.”
Mike Bowden, Chairman of community bidders Lydiard Park Heritage Trust, said: “The Localism Act (which gives rise to the moratorium) does not require or envisage a pause such as the one we’ve had. It simply prohibits the council from entering into a binding agreement such as a lease with anyone other than a qualifying community group during the moratorium period.
“We are surprised that Swindon Borough Council did not use the early weeks of the period to meet with appropriate bidders and better understand their proposals for the future of Lydiard.”
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