THERE will be a debate surrounding the future of Lydiard House and Park at the next council meeting, despite a petition with 8,000 signatures not meeting the necessary requirements to trigger one.

Swindon Borough Council are looking at leasing the popular site as a cost saving measure despite strong protests from residents.

Thousands of people signed a petition calling for the move to be stopped, comfortably passing the 1,500 normally needed to trigger a debate at full council.

However, the signatories need to live within the borough and because the petition, set up on Change.org, could not prove this, it did not qualify.

But Council Leader David Renard (Con, Haydon Wick) says he recognises the level of interest in the issue and a motion on the proposals will be tabled at the next council meeting, with wording to be decided, so a debate can be had.

He said: “The petition did not meet the required standards to trigger a debate which is a shame because a lot of guidance was given.

“Having said that, it is clear there is a lot of interest so two of my members will table a motion on the subject.

“Lydiard is a key asset for the borough and everyone wants to see it have a secure and sustainable future which is what we are working towards.”

The Friends of Lydiard campaign Group, which set up the petition, has called a meeting to discuss the future of the park and house to take place at Lydiard Academy, starting at 7pm.

In a statement, it said: “We're surprised to learn that despite Change.org being used by literally millions of people to launch campaigns in hundreds of countries to make governments and companies more responsive and accountable, Swindon Borough Council have decided that our online petition does not comply with their procedures to trigger an automatic debate on Lydiard Park.

“We'd like to call on as many people as possible to attend the public meeting on 12 January to demonstrate your concern with SBC's plans to lease out Lydiard House and Park potentially to a profit making organisation.”

Prior to the announcement of a debate, the Labour Group had said, due to the level of interest, it wanted to work with the Council Leader to set up a debate on the issue.

Labour leader Jim Grant (Lab, Rodbourne Cheney), said: “It is clear by the phenomenal response of this petition of the strength of feeling of Swindon residents on this issue.

“I know that David believes in getting the public more involved in council decisions - indeed, this is why the council devised a petition scheme in the first place.

“The Friends of Lydiard’s petition is exactly what the scheme was designed to do - allow residents to air their views on a council-related subject they feel strongly about. To fail to allow a council debate on their petition would send all the wrong signals to the Swindon public that the council is not interested in their views.”