Lydiard House in crisis after deal falls through

The future of Lydiard House and Park has been thrown into crisis after plans to transfer the running of the landmark asset have fallen through.

Lydiard House and Park will continue to be run by Swindon Borough Council after a disagreement with Lydiard Park Heritage Trust over the cost of restoring the property and the future running of the conference centre, thought to run into millions of pounds.

A total of £850,000 had been set aside by the council to contribute to backlog maintenance works but after Lydiard Park Heritage Trust submitted its updated business plan in October, there was a disparity of millions of pounds. The latest development was made public in a statement from Swindon Borough Council on 16 February - a move criticised by Mike Bowden, chairman of the Lydiard Park Heritage Trust, who blasted the council for its 'unprofessional' approach in not making a joint statement and attempting to make political capital out of the rift.

Mr Bowden said: "The Trust has no desire to take part in what seems to be a party political statement more in line with the elections in May than the wellbeing of Lydiard Park and House. Councillors from all parties need to focus on coming up with immediate solutions for the crisis that Lydiard Park and House finds itself in and a credible plan for the future sustainability of the site.

"The reasons we were given by the council for their decision to halt this process was purely on legal grounds and we were meant to be putting out a joint statement. The first we knew about the council's statement was when we were called by the BBC. We believe this is very unprofessional and that those involved should hang their heads in shame. There is a very real crisis at Lydiard Park and House, especially with the conference centre's lease with Chartridge due to end in April and it is the council's plan to mothball that facility and if we are lucky provide a security guard.

"We have seen in Swindon how the council treats their heritage assets like the Mechanics Institute and the Health Hydro and we need to ensure that by working with all parties that does not happen to Lydiard."

In its statement, Swindon Borough Council says it has "reaffirmed its clear, long-standing commitment towards maintaining the popular heritage asset for the people of Swindon".

It adds: “Talks to narrow the gap in valuations and the requested contribution from the Council for the works ended without agreement. This, and a requirement for an operational subsidy, would have made any deal unlawful in light of the bidding process, as the council would be in breach of its Best Value Duty under the Local Government Act 1999.”

Coun Garry Perkins, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member responsible for Heritage, said in the statement: “Unfortunately, we are just too far apart in our valuations for how much backlog maintenance and operational subsidy is required and, as a result, it would be unlawful to proceed with the transfer. However, this is the point of the due diligence work, to help identify key issues. This has highlighted that an agreement is not possible and that the Trust’s bid does not represent the best value for taxpayers in Swindon.

“As we cannot continue with the transfer, the house and park will remain in council control, which will involve investing in Lydiard House, keeping the existing conference facilities running in the short term, before sympathetically enhancing them over the next few years.”

The council’s cabinet agreed last March to endorse Lydiard Park Heritage Trust as its preferred bidder to take over Lydiard House and Park and to allow a period of due diligence to enable the Trust to undertake further work on its business plan.