What do you Value from Lydiard Park & House?

If you were unable to attend the two public engagement days at Lydiard Park you can print off this form and scan it and send your reply to lydiardfuture@swindon.gov.uk or post it to Rachel Watts, Asset Transformation Delivery Lead at Swindon Borough Council, Civic Offices, Euclid Street, Swindon SN1 2JH. Closing date is December 18.

There have been criticisms of this process and the form.

1. Why wasn't the form available, not only as a hard copy, but also online. In the past the Council has used SurveyMonkey - see the following Wikipedia description -

SurveyMonkey is an online survey development cloud-based (software as a service) company, founded in 1999 by Ryan Finley. SurveyMonkey provides free, customizable surveys, as well as a suite of paid back-end programs that include data analysis, sample selection, bias elimination, and data representation tools. In addition to providing free and paid plans for individual users. SurveyMoney offers more large-scale enterprise options for companies interested in data analysis, brand management, and consumer-focused marketing.

2. The ethnicity question is inadequate.

3. The questions are heavily loaded - what do you value most and what do you value least.

If you list the children's playpark as least valued, will that go or will it be leased out to a private company and be subject to the vagaries of maintenance and access charges?

If you value the barbecue facilities least, will these receive the same treatment?

And if you value least the Grade I listed Palladian mansion and restored (with £3 million from the HLF) 18th century Walled Garden, what does the future hold for this beautiful, historic property?

4. The form ends on a cliff hanger:- Please return your completed questionnaire, either by post or hand-delivered, to: ... and there is no name or address.

Does this two day process, based on a questionable set of figures, and a poorly constructed form inspire you with confidence?

If you would like to include a few ideas (from the people of Swindon) to create sustainable sources of income for Lydiard House & Park, please feel free to print off The List and send it with your form.

And maybe you would like to consider joining the Friends of Lydiard Park?

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