BATTLE lines were drawn yesterday in the fight to bring Swindon Railway Cottage Museum back to life by Mechanics’ Institution Trust and Swindon Heritage.

The two organisations presented their visions for the facility to members of the public and Swindon Council representatives at the civic offices in Euclid Street.

In autumn, the council invited expressions of interest from third sector organisations in an effort to hand over management of the museum.

Mike Pringle and Graham Carter represented Swindon Heritage, a magazine focused on the town’s history. They put forward a vision for a Railwayman’s Cottage project.

Within a year, they said, they would set up a group called The Friends of the Railwayman’s Cottage as a focal point for volunteers and other interested parties.

This would be used to establish a management trust known as The Railwayman’s Cottage Trust within three years.

Creating the trust would be phased in, with an initial priority reopening the cottage in Faringdon Road as a straightforward museum, with casual or pre-booked tours.

Heritage would use the cottage as a base or focal point for educational and other projects, primarily involving young people.

The bid also made clear the organisation would expect autonomy in governing the cottage. It said it had withdrawn a bid in 2013 when the council wanted several bidders to work together.

“The Railwayman’s Cottage is only one piece of the heritage jigsaw in Swindon, but it is a key one, and could be a signpost for other people in the town,” the bid said.

“It shows them how the transfer of responsibility to community-minded and pro-Swindon groups like Swindon Heritage can be of mutual benefit to us all.”

Mechanics’ Institution Trust based its bid on the established programme of work it already carries out in the railway village and revealed it had been seeking management of the museum for many years.

The trust works with other organisations across Swindon to facilitate greater recognition of the vital role heritage plays in the town.

Daniel Rose, chairman of the trust, said they would reopen the museum as a house from 1900, but with a more modern approach, including the removal of barriers to the rooms and live interpreters inside.

The trust also wants to work with Steam, the Great Western Railway museum, to create a fuller package for schools.

The bid also revealed talks between the trust and organisations responsible for broadcasting at heritage locations, whose television productions could boost visitor numbers.

Walking tours of the village have already been established by the trust, but it would also make the museum available for special interest tours, such as ghost hunting.

“The trust believes passionately in the localism agenda, including the aspirations of the One Swindon approach,” the bid said.

“We feel that assets such as the Railway Cottage Museum are best placed in the community management for long-term sustainability and public engagement.

“After all, so much of Swindon’s legacy was created by local people, identifying their own challenges and seeking out innovative solutions.”

A decision on the winning bid is expected next week.