Lease programme moves forward as charges to be introduced

Councillors will be asked to invite formal bids to take over the running of the popular park with organisations having three months to submit their proposals.

They will also be asked to approve an offer £850,000 for potential bidders to go towards outstanding repairs of the historic house.

A consultation with users would also take place to understand specific concerns around how people may be affected by any potential changes.

If approved, a further report would be brought before the cabinet in June recommending a new model for the running of the site, with the results of the consultation helping to inform cabinet members before they make a final decision.

Last year the park cost the council £458,000 to run and projections for this current year (2015-16) show the council will pay around £420,000.

Following the deadline for expressions of interest, nine organisations declared an interest in the site and the council held individual meetings with all of them in order to explore their proposals in more detail.

Cabinet will also be asked to implement a trial of car parking charges across the council’s country parks, which it is estimated could raise at least £400,000 a year. 

The money raised from introducing parking charges from Lydiard alone would be used to offset part of the current subsidy, while the income from the remainder of the country parks would be used to secure their sustainable future within the council’s ownership.

The car parking charges would be implemented between June and September for trial periods following a consultation with park users, local residents and stakeholders.

The level of parking charges has not yet been announced.

Exploring commercial opportunities for Lydiard Park formed part of the council’s Leisure and Culture Commissioning Change Programme, which resulted in the successful leasing of the borough’s leisure and golf facilities last year. This secured a sustainable future for these important facilities, which are no longer reliant on subsidies from the Council.

Councillor Garry Perkins (Con, Haydon Wick) the cabinet responsible for Lydiard, said: “There has been a huge amount of interest in the future of Lydiard Park and understandably so because it is close to many people’s hearts.

“We had a very good debate in the Council Chamber recently and I am pleased to recommend to my cabinet colleagues an extension of the bidding process to enable the Friends of Lydiard enough time to put together their proposal.

“It was encouraging to see a range of expressions of interest and we now look forward to receiving formal bids which will secure a sustainable future for Lydiard and investment in the park so everyone can continue to enjoy it for years to come.”

Labour has said it remains unhappy private companies are being considered as part of the move and want a local bid by the Friends of Lydiard Group to be the sole consideration.

Coun Jim Robbins (Lab, Mannington and Western) said: ““It is disappointing that the Council are continuing to go down the road of transferring Lydiard and that this potentially could go to a private sector company. I am fully supportive of the bid from the staff and Friends of Lydiard and hope they are successful in their bid however we are against them having to compete with the private sector.

“Lydiard is worth so much more than just who can run the park at a profit. It is a place people can come to for free and use its wide range of facilities and attractions, it showcases Swindon’s heritage and is a place people can come together.

“Everyone agrees that Lydiard really is the jewel in Swindon’s crown and is loved by so many people.

“Yet putting Lydiard out to competitive tender, for anyone to bid for, really isn’t the way our town’s most valuable asset should be treated.

“In the upcoming local elections people will get the chance to keep Lydiard under public control, by voting Labour.”