WE might have been critical of Swindon Council in the past but its foresight in buying Lydiard House and park 60 years ago ranks among the best deals ever done in this country.

The house and 260 acres of land were sold for just £4,600. That sort of money wouldn't even buy a garage in today's Swindon.

If it wasn't for the old Swindon Corporation the house might have been demolished.

Now its future is safe for the generations of Swindonians to come.