AN Evening Advertiser poll asking people about the future of the town's struggling Steam museum has come out in favour of the museum investing in live steam in the future.

The phone poll, which ran with a story about how members of the Swindon and Cricklade Railway felt they may be able help the museum by providing live steam, also revealed many people did not think it was right that the taxpayer should be asked to subsidise Steam to the tune of £575,000 a year.Overall some 74 per cent of people said it was not right that the taxpayer should subsidise the museum, while 56 per cent thought it would be a good idea to invest in live steam to improve the visitor numbers.

Jeff Austen, chairman of the Swindon and Cricklade Railway, agreed Steam should not be subsidised, but felt that live steam would only be a good idea if the museum joined up with his organisation, which already has expertise with the old engines.

He said: "As a ratepayer I don't agree that Steam should be subsidised, but if that money went towards linking Steam with the Swindon and Cricklade railway I would be happier.

"I do feel though that investment in live steam would be a costly mistake simply because of the enormous costs in operating and maintaining these engines."

Coun John Taylor, (Lab Central) chairman of the Steam Task Group last week welcomed the idea to work with the Swindon and Cricklade Railway and was pleased with the findings of the Evening Advertiser's poll.

He said: "The poll justifies and endorses the findings of the Steam Task Group and I hope these ideas would help to balance the council's books."