COUNCIL chiefs have pledged Lydiard Park and house will remain open to the public, despite a plan to lease the heritage assets out.

But they say certain aspects regarding its will have to change and may well involve the introduction of car parking charges.

Swindon Borough Council spends £450,000 a year on subsidising the Georgian park and house, which cabinet members say is no longer sustainable.

It decided to offer a lease to businesses, charities and local groups interested in running the site to reduce the annual bill.

Coun Garry Perkins (Con, Haydon Wick) said: “It is important people know we are not selling anything. Lydiard is owned by the people of Swindon and it will remain that way.

“We are not planning on changing the character of the place by putting in a theme park or anything and there will still be public access.

“But we have to make it more commercially viable. The Swindon tax payer is paying almost half a million every year and with the priorities the council has towards helping vulnerable people something has to change.

“It would be great if someone came forward with a proposal which returned a profit to the council but the priority is reducing the subsidy.”

The details of any lease offer will not be known until early next year once the tender process has been completed.

“It could be someone wants to run a restaurant in the house or turn the upstairs into rooms for weddings,” said Coun Perkins.

“A parking charge could be introduced but possibly only at big events, or a small one. I think a £1 charge would be very reasonable.

“What we will be doing is talking with people all the way and we will be very open about the whole process.”

The council has engaged a company to run the tender programme and approach companies likely to be interested.

Councillors believe several companies could take control of different parts.

Although there will be consultation on the details of the lease, campaigners are frustrated the decision has come out of the blue.

David Barnard, of the Lydiard Fields Action Group, said: “I would have thought that for such a big move we would have been told more. The park and house are vital parts of Swindon’s culture and heritage.

"It is important there is a consultation and it needs to be a high priority.”