Dear Stakeholder Securing a sustainable future for Lydiard House and Park was one of the important topics discussed by Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet last night. Councillors were asked to invite formal bids to take over the running of the house and park with organisations having three months to submit their proposals. A consultation with users will also take place from February – May to understand specific concerns around how people may be impacted by any potential changes. The extension to the bidding window was given to allow for the time requested by local groups to put their bids together. The aim is for a report to be brought before Cabinet in June recommending a new model for the running of the site with the results of the consultation helping to inform cabinet members before they make a final decision on bids received from February – May. It follows the exercise aimed at testing interest from the market late last year by independent property advisor Bilfinger GVA, which invited expressions of interest from national, commercial and not-for-profit organisations as well as local community groups. Following the deadline for expressions of interest, nine organisations declared an interest in the site and the council held individual meetings with all of them in order to explore their proposals in more detail. As part of the feedback obtained from the expressions of interest, the council’s cabinet has offered potential bidders £850,000 as a contribution to the current backlog maintenance for the site. Cabinet also approved start of a consultation on car parking charges across the council’s country parks, which it is estimated could raise at least £400,000 a year. The predicted amount of money raised from introducing parking charges from Lydiard alone would be used to offset part of the current subsidy, while the income from the remainder of the country parks would be used to secure their sustainable future within the council’s ownership. The car parking charges would be implemented between June and September for a trial period following the consultation with park users, local residents and stakeholders which will start in February. Please visit www.swindon.gov.uk/goinglocal for more information. If you have any further questions or concerns you can email lydiardfuture@swindon.gov.uk or call 01793 466234. Yours sincerely Cllr Garry Perkins Cabinet Member for Economy, Regeneration and Skills