Ahead of the Council Meeting on Thursday, November 12 and the motion Cllr Jim Robbins is due to propose, I have been re-reading the Swindon Heritage Strategy produced by Swindon Borough Council in 2013.
It's a brave document, in fact there is a whole section on bravery (page 13) and working together and trusting one another.
There is also a paragraph (page 16) all about Lydiard House and Park and the investments made which have led to increased numbers of visitors and earned income potential.
On page 7 under the heading 'Vision' there is a bullet point that reads:
Develop partnerships between voluntary, public and business sectors to develop the action plan.
But it doesn't say anything about giving prospective business partners a 21 year lease and losing control of what goes on at our Council owned heritage sites, which of course, belong to the people of Swindon.
The Swindon Heritage Strategy is a very cleverly worded document, and it says a lot of things we all wanted to hear; it appeared to offer protection for our heritage sites.
I'd now like those who were concerned in the compilation of the Heritage Strategy to re-examine what they wrote in 2013 and I ask is this rushed proposal to lease off Lydiard House and Park true to the spirit of the Heritage Strategy?
