Is there hope for Mechanics' Institute?

That is according to South Swindon MP Anne Snelgrove, who raised matter of the Swindon landmark in Parliament.

But the owner of the building and a member of the New Mechanics' Trust are unsure about what the Bill will do.

Addressing the Prime Minister on Wednesday after the unveiling of the draft Heritage Protection Bill, Mrs Snelgrove said she hoped the bill would help safeguard the grade II*-listed building.

She said: "Would his proposals to protect historic buildings help the Mechanics' Institute in Swindon, which is in private hands, and is a crumbling but beautiful building we seek to protect?

"Will he help us by ensuring that people who are private owners of such buildings are included in that protection?"

Mr Brown said the Government would look at what they could do.

But Mechanics Institute owner Mathew Singh said he was mystified as to how the Bill, which seeks to give more power to English Heritage and improve accessibility to the public, among other things, would be useful to him.

"I welcome any mention in Parliament of what I am trying to do with the Mechanics', but I'm not sure how this is good for me," he said.

"English Heritage say don't do this, don't do this, but the building is crumbling."

Martha Parry, a member of the New Mechanics' Trust, said: "Anything that makes enforcement of maintenance of this property a priority would be a good thing.

"The Mechanics' has suffered from 20 years of negligent ownership - the fabric of the building has been neglected. We have sent an email to Anne Snelgrove asking what she meant by her question, and its reference to private owners."

Mrs Snelgrove said: "The draft legislation gives provision to strengthen the law regarding listed buildings.

"What I'm concerned about is that buildings in private ownership should be provided for in this bill.

"The Mechanics' Institute is owned privately and while the owner is waiting for planning permission the building is deteriorating."