THE new management at Thamesdown Transport have launched a consultation amid speculation that a name change could be in the works.

When Go South Cost took over the struggling bus firm from Swindon Borough Council last month, the company's managing director said the name was here to stay.

The Thamesdown name came from the merger of the municipal borough of Swindon and Highworth rural district council in 1974.

It was dropped when Swindon Borough Council was formed in 1997 but the bus company continued to keep it alive.

The morning after the firm's sale was confirmed, Andrew Wickham pointed to the black and white photos from yesteryear on the boardroom wall at the Barnfield Road depot and said that while there may be some colour scheme or livery changes in the future, the Thamesdown brand carried important historical significance.

He added that Go South Coast have a policy of naming their local networks after the places where they operate rather than adopting a company-wide branding structure.

But in a move that has led people to speculate as to whether that position is set to change in Swindon, the company is now asking passengers to complete a survey about the name on its website.

It asks respondents whether they know where the Thamesdown name originated from and whether they feel it is old fashioned or still relevant.

A spokesman for Thamesdown Transport denied that any change was planned, but said that due to the number of queries received on the subject of the name, they felt it was an issue worth understanding more precisely.

You can have your say by visiting www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/thamesdownsurvey