Staff at Lydiard Park Conference Centre are to be made redundant after employer, The Chartridge Conference Company Ltd, announced that it plans to cease operating at the end of March.
And the trustees of Lydiard Park Heritage Trust have warned that the move could pose a risk to the continued running of Lydiard House with the loss of vital income vital to support the running of the venue.
In a statement, The trustees of the Lydiard Park Heritage Trust said they were "saddened" by the news.
"These are worrying times for the hardworking and loyal members of staff and we feel for them.
"All relevant parties have known that the Chartridge Conference Centre business has been on a downward trend for some time. Indeed the extension of the due diligence period, between ourselves and Swindon Borough Council, is in part due to uncertainty regarding the future of the conference centre.
"We fear that Lydiard House itself would be at grave risk if the conference centre were to be left unoccupied for even a short period of time. The conference centre should be providing vital income to support the running of the House and Park. We therefore trust that Swindon Council has a contingency plan in place and that they, as owners of the building, will take steps to ensure that a way is found to keep the conference centre open for business."
A Swindon Borough Council spokesman said: “We are aware that Chartridge will stop operating the Lydiard conference centre at the end of March. We are in discussions with Chartridge to minimise the impact on any bookings and will be considering options for the future of the conference centre. In the meantime, the due diligence period with the Lydiard Park Heritage Trust will continue.”
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