Bletchley Park Trust "Disappointed" as Government Rejects Appeal for Support

20 May 2009

Bletchley Park Trust "Disappointed" as Government Rejects Appeal for Support
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Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall's petition in the House of Lords yesterday 
asking, "Her Majesty's Government what support they will give to the 
restoration and development of Bletchley Park" was rejected by Lord 
Davies of Oldham, the Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Lords.

Lord Davies responded, "Both English Heritage and the Housing 
Communities Agency have provided advice and funding for the development of 
the Bletchley Park site.  In 2008 English Heritage provided a grant of 
£330,000 towards buildings conservation repairs and has offered to 
provide a further £300,000 for the area. The Housing Communities 
investment is towards the purchase and redevelopment of the land on the 
site and related infrastructure."

"The fundraising effort is indeed going pretty well, and it is to improve 
both the buildings and museum facilities. Visitor numbers are rising very 
rapidly and its business plan shows it will be self-sufficient once 
capital building work is completed. They are suffering considerable 
difficulty in surviving in the interim,"  Baroness McIntosh responded.

"Could he encourage his friends at the Department for Culture, Media and
Sport to reconsider their willingness to support this project ?"  she
asked.

Lord Davies once again rejected this with, "The issue with regard to 
support for Bletchley Park is a complex one.  The Bletchley Park Trust 
itself receives no external support but there is substantial support for 
the architectural and historical infrastructure.".../snip/

http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/news/docview.rhtm/577659

http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=4059 

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/itmanagement/0,1000000308,39654380,00.htm

http://www.silicon.com/publicsector/0,3800010403,39432537,00.htm

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/may/20/yesterday-in-parliament