Swindon in the Past Lane

Swindon Borough Council will be holding the second of its public engagement days at the Visitor Centre, Lydiard Park on Sunday November 22 from 9.30 am  to 3.30 pm. The evaluation form we are invited to fill in is woefully inadequate I feel. It includes the usual tick box exercise but the two sections where we are invited to express our feelings are headed - What do you value most about the site and what does it do well? and What do you value least and think could be improved? A lot of thought has obviously gone into these two statements, with the Council's ultimate objective in mind - the leasing out of the House and Parkland. I value everything at Lydiard House and Park and yes, of course there is room for improvement, as in all services and attractions everywhere, both publicly and privately owned. But I still believe this could be achieved under Council ownership with the allocation of profit sharing contracts where the Council retains control rather than long term lea...

I am publishing today a statement issued by The Friends of Lydiard Park . The Friends of Lydiard Park is an independent charity dedicated to supporting the conservation and continued enhancement of Lydiard House and Park. Founded in 2005 it is the successor to the Friends of Lydiard Tregoz whose 40 years of published research raised awareness and appreciation of this unique historic estate. The Friends were instrumental in Lydiard's major landscape restoration project (2001-7) and today we play an active and important role in the protection, promotion, conservation and interpretation of the House and Park and St. Mary's Church Lydiard Tregoze. Swindon Borough Council is inviting people to attend events tomorrow (Wednesday 18) and Sunday 22 November at the Visitor Centre, Lydiard Park, to give their views on what elements of Lydiard are important to them. A new partner/s is being sought to run Lydiard House and Park and while we appreciate the severe financial constraints ...