HUNDREDS of people packed out a meeting on Tuesday evening to discuss the future of Lydiard House and Park.

The session was organised by the Friends of Lydiard group, who are against the historic attraction being leased to a private company.

Swindon Borough Council is looking to lease Lydiard in a bid to cut a £450,000 subsidy and Councillor Garry Perkins (Con, Haydon Wick), the cabinet member responsible for the move, took dozens of questions from the residents in attendance.

Prior to the meeting’s start, the roads around Lydiard Park Academy, where the meeting was held, were jammed solid as more than 600 people came to have their say.

The questions raised covered a range of topics and it became clear very quickly how important the park is to everyone in attendance.

Last year, the council invited expressions of interest from organisations interested in taking over either all or part of Lydiard.

It emerged during the meeting there are nine organisations which have come forward. On Friday and Monday Coun Perkins, along with a number of officers, will have discussions over ideas.

Among those who have come forward are a group of existing Lydiard staff members as well as the Friends of Lydiard.

Chair of the Friends Mike Bowden, who chaired the meeting and admitted to being overwhelmed at the turnout, has requested the process is halted for three months to allow them to properly prepare a bid, a position supported by the Labour group also represented on Tuesday.

While Coun Perkins did not have the authority to say yes at the time, he has said he will speak with the rest of cabinet about the process.