HONESTY, they say, is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. And if you can fake it, as Groucho Marx comically observed, boy, you’ve got it made.

But for sitting Lydiard & Freshbrook councillor Tim Swinyard, who will on May 3 face the tempestuous wrath of the voters, honesty ought to be afforded more than a single chapter.

“I would like to see a situation where if any councillor is dishonest at any stage and for any reason, they should resign,” he said.

“People should have the right to believe what they are told by councillors. After all, we are here to help people – that is the whole point.”

Tim first joined the Conservative Party in 2011 when he got involved in the campaign to stop ravenous developers sinking their jaws into the jewel of Swindon’s crown, Lydiard Park. The role was not one that fit him easily; speaking in public was, at that time, a palpably frightening prospect.

But when he saw what could be achieved by becoming a councillor, and the chance of being in a position to help others, he embraced the opportunity to represent the residents of Lydiard & Freshbrook, the ward in which he grew up and has lived ever since.

He recounts the tale of a woman in a wheelchair who came to him unable to cross the road outside her house due to the absence of a dropped kerb. Something must be done, he determined, and after numerous meetings and discussions with highways officers, a dropped kerb was finally installed.

“It’s fantastic to know that now she can take her child to school safely or go to the shops without worrying. You have essentially changed someone’s whole life. When you manage to solve problems for people, it is very rewarding.”

As Van Gogh once observed, all great things are but a series of small ones.

One of the biggest issues of concern for those who live in the ward is the future of Lydiard House and Park. Although the council could not on legal grounds progress with plans to pass responsibility for the house and park to the Lydiard Park Heritage Trust, it is widely believed that such a situation was wholly avoidable.

Tim, however, is confident that Lydiard’s best days reside in future realms. Since the fallout between the council and the trust, he has been one of the most vociferous in calling for all interested parties to come together and make the interests of Lydiard their top priority.

Confidently, he said: “Lydiard House and Park has a very bright future ahead. I genuinely believe we can achieve something really great if we all work together.

“The trust have acted completely honourably throughout and there will still be a key role for them.

“In the next year, we are going to see a lot of repairs carried out and a lot of money spent on Lydiard Park. Whatever happens, the trust will have to be involved.”

A report will soon be brought to cabinet outlining the council’s vision for Lydiard, though trying to second guess its contents would doubtless be a fool’s errand.

On his Conservative colleagues’ financial accomplishments, Tim is complimentary, though he does not surrender his capacity for objective criticism.

“We balance the budget every year, which sounds like a simple thing, but producing a balanced budget year on year is a big achievement. There are huge challenges, but we are still able to deliver services.”

In his typically collegial manner, he said: “I think the council’s record has been very good, but I’d always happily take suggestions on how we could do things differently.”