Cllr Renard says he was unaware of the ongoing petition?!

I find it unbelievable that Mr Renard claims to have only just heard that the petition is ongoing, as he has been aware of its existence since inception and named petition; which has regular updates. With just one pensioner walking around town for about six mornings with a paper and this online petition, the numbers are c2500 and being readied to formally submit; delays happened in the week due to not being able to download a PDF for a while. But numbers have been going up too, especially since Friday's claims by Cllr Renard! The HLF -- also named on the petition -- have been aware of this. If Mr Renard wanted us all to get behind the bid, why did he not -- as he was IMPLORED to do in the Spring of this year -- back also the pathway to bid to the HLF from the Mechanics' Institute Trust. The Museum and Art Gallery newbuild bid is likely to suck the only funding possibly now available for the Mechanics', when the museum/gallery could so much more affordably -- and brilliantly - still be placed in the Carriage Works. The Carriage Works option would be more sustainable, as it could well co-exist with rent-paying businesses. Unlike the new build whose funding and sustainability is so very uncertain. So very sad that good honest public consultation in the early stages has not taken place, nor clear ongoing reporting in the Adver of WHY this petition exists and its progress (perhaps Mr Renard only finds out what is going on in Swindon via this newspaper? I am bewildered!) Now 'public consultation proof' to be sent to the HLF for this new-build bid contains votes from schoolchildren. At least all of the petitioners would be those old enough to have facebook and email accounts. IF this bid fails, it will be the SBC's fault alone.