ASSURANCES provided by the council to safeguard the future of Lydiard have been thrown into doubt, it is claimed.

Members of the Lydiard Park Heritage Trust have spoken of their concern that council officers are “trying to renege on the deal” agreed last week between Councillor Keith Williams and the trust.

The deal committed the council to carrying out vital repair works to Lydiard House within the next two years.

But it has since been announced that the vast majority of the repair work that needs to be carried out could be done for just £1m.

This is in stark contrast to the figure of almost £5m that the trust’s surveyors, renowned architects Caroe and Partners, who specialise in historic buildings, came up with last year - the findings of which the council, at the time, agreed with.

But sources have suggested that by committing to spending just £1m, the council is completely disregarding the results of the survey.

With SBC already promising to pay £850,000 toward the backlog maintenance bill, and the car park at Lydiard bringing in more than £500,000, the trust have been left wondering why the £1m wasn’t suggested at an earlier date, thus avoiding the fall out which ensued in May.

Mike Bowden, chairman of the Lydiard Park Heritage Trust, said: “The assurances set out in last week’s joint statement were a step in the right direction. But those assurances must be complied with. If SBC believe they can do all the agreed works for £1m I’d be surprised, but if that’s the professional opinion of SBC’s head of property – then so be it.

“But let’s be clear, the assurance in the joint statement was for SBC to undertake a schedule of work that has already been agreed within two years. It was not an assurance that the council would spend any specified sum of money, be it £1m or any other figure.

“With the elections so close I would be amazed if SBC were trying to renege on the deal.”

In response, Councillor Keith Williams, the cabinet member responsible for Lydiard House and Park, said: “I can confirm that cabinet earmarked £850k towards repairs back in February 2016 as the “reverse premium”. All that remains is to agree exactly which works will be undertaken.”

Explaining how the council reached the £1m figure, he said: “Due to the effects of inflation since 2016, during the negotiations with the trust the council recognised that the cost of repairs has increased.”

He reaffirmed the council’s commitment to Lydiard.

“I can confirm that we remain committed not just to preserving Lydiard House and Park as they are now but to enhancing this historic asset and giving both the Park and House a sustainable financial future.”