“I agree with all the comments. Here in Anglesey we were promised a new purpose built records office and local studies centre 11 years ago. So far nothing. A "consultation" was held last year and a report was to be circulated. Nothing so far. Our County record office is staffed by brilliant people but the office is tiny and counting footfalls would be small. The diaspora from North Wales was immense in earlier centuries and people come from all over the world to "find their roots". I am ashamed of the facilities here. I travel to Devon, Ripon, Huddersfield and Sunderland to research with my husband. As other correspondents mention I am stuffing money into these communities during the week I stay there. The saving of records is paramount. What are we but a result of the experiences of past ages.
For shame Plymouth Council, for shame.”

“As a family history researcher who has made use of the facilities of Plymouth Archives at a distance I wholeheartedly support the views of Devon FHS (of which I am a member) and most of the other comments made on this page. Sadly this whole affair is representative of the state of local government in Britain today, where it is "led" (if that is not too strong a word) by members and officers who are bean counters who know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. It is true that some of this state of affairs has come about because of financial pressure from central governments of both political persuasions in the last 30 years. But local politicians and officers still have enough discretionary spending powers to resolve a matter like this - if they have the will to do so. It is the will that is clearly lacking, and the fact that the officer responsible for the service cannot even be bothered to turn up at a meeting speaks volumes. What price accountability to council tax payers and the customers they serve? I hope that all those who are able to vote in the next elections for Plymouth City Council on 6 May 2010 will remember that the way they
vote directly affects matters such as this.”

“The cost of implementing its undertaking to rehouse Plymouth and West Devon Record Office to a site that is not surrounded by commercial uses with their damaging effect on the irreplaceable records (which P.C.C seems to regard as unimportant) must be minimal when compared with the vast - and largely unwanted - cost to the local community of trying to stage a series of ephemeral games of football. Records are permanent, providing they are properly maintained, and are of the greatest value not only to those involved in family and local history, but also to future generations who may reasonably expect that such information is kept available locally. At the recent meeting the failure of councillors and council employees to turn up to attempt to defend their shortcomings in failing to comply with their statutory obligation is a disgrace and brings shame and disrepute to P.C.C.”

“I have read with interest the comments of the above.I agree that the Plymouth City Council has treated the many organizations in an around Plymouth most shamefully.
Where oh where! is their civic pride.In the past there was such vision,just look back to the 1950's when Plymouth rose out of the ashes,and where can you find those city plans,yes! that's right at the Plymouth & West Devon record office.
Look to the future city councillors,one day your descendants may be looking into your history,oh! I forgot there won't be any records for them to research if you didn't come up with the new building.
So it's up to you,will those descendants find a success story and feel proud ,or will they need to hang their heads in SHAME.”

“Typical of Goverments and Local Goverments around the world these days, Treat the public with contempt”

“As a keen historian and, in the recent past, an occasional visitor to the Plymouth and West Devon Record Office I am astonished by the reckless indifference and disregard being shown by the Council towards the priceless heritage of Devon committed to their care. The records simply must be adequately protected and preserved for future generations in a place that is accessible to the public. The idea that if I wanted to access an item in the future I might need to travel from Australia to a salt mine in Cheshire beggars belief! There may be a worldwide economic downturn but the money required to keep what is irreplaceable safe and sound is small beer when compared to the millions expended on an endless war in Afghanistan or the vast sums of public money being pumped into banks and frivolously re-directed into fat bonuses for ineffective bosses. Pull your finger out and serve the interests of the whole community! A community that loses sight of or touch with its own history is effectively dead - it has no roots, no points of reference and nothing to build upon. Wake up Plymouth Council before its too late. Reconsider your ill-conceived attitudes and plans. Get it right or step aside and let someone else protect this vital heritage resource.”

“As an expatriot from the North of the county, I am amazed and shocked that the authority running largest conurbation in Devon cannot find either the time, inclination or money to preserve the historical records covering a wide range of subjects and time, in a building which is fit for purpose.

I have often used the North Devon Record Office in Barnstaple and that is a jewel in the crown for family and social historians with connexions with North Devon.

I fully support the action taken by those living in the area and elsewhere who are endeavouring to ensure these precious records are kept in Plymouth where they can be safely stored and accessed by those who have an interest in the history of Plymouth and the surrounding areas.

If for any reason the existing collection is split up and housed eslewhere, that is how it will stay. To have the dispersed collections reinstalled in a new (if it ever is built) facility will become very difficult.

Once lost - probably gone for ever.”

“I originate from Plymouth and my family still live there, my ancestors lived and died for Plymouth. I found my Great Uncle was Lord Mayor Oats of Plymouth back in the 1950's and another Great Grandfather died whilst at work at Laira Railway in 1912. My grandfather from Plymouth was killed in WW11 - 1941 he was 22 years old and without the help of PAWDRO, I would never have known he was one of 12 children all born in Saunders Place in Plymouth, I had never heard of this street in Plymouth so PAWDRO provided my with lovely maps of the old city before the war wiped out most of it. There is no better way of tracing a relative without visiting a records office. I can't believe the Plymouth City Council have turned there back! on this issue, hey what is going on?. The information held at PAWDRO is a national treasure and there are thousands of people I know who visit the records office in Plymouth each year, and for a lot of us it involves a good 3 to 4 day stay in Plymouth for me, family history is quite an expensive hobby, but one I am willing to pay 3 or 4 times a year, whilst I might not spend much money at the Records Office, believe me when I say I spend a fortune on Hotels and eating out in Plymouth.

The present economic climate for Plymouth isn't good, so surely, the tourism revenue alone from family researchers is probably keeping Plymouth City Councilors employed. If the relocation of the records office can't be resolved then please consider sending all the records to the National Archives in London as it is just an hour from my home and I can easily visit in a day. I am sure the rich people of Richmond Upon Thames would gladly welcome south western historians with open arms.

Julie”

“OK.The name and shame has been done but is there one other top of the tree name to expose? I agree 99% of dialogue. Somebody made a plea for relocating peripheral archives. This is surely a double edged sword. NO NO NO....relinquish some and run the risk of losing all.
NO NO NO also to Admiralty House and any similar Palmerston folly buildings. Technically they may well be leaky and always needful of environmental improvement..You may not know about the tunnels down under either!So it is stiff upper lip and carry on.Like all the Mums and little children with brave faces did at Rusty Anchor. We must make a fight of it . Do Google on Plymouth worldwide and see what other venues might be sympathetic. in the financial requirement.
We could do with an outspoken Mayor or two like Nancy Astor...Maureen knows all about her ..apart from being probably archived at PWDROshe did take on the might of Plymouth Treasury and secured a mortgage for a long serving CPO R.N. who had been refused on the grounds that he didnt have a secure job. So if the right people are for you much can be achieved. Nothing happens unless you ask for it as father did.We of the DFHS ,as a registered charityare probably not allowed to be active in this field. With 5000 odd members could we recruit someone to trawl for likely prospects for a world wide lottery. Perhaps the city council could forget about a recent TV report where they may give some money to assist the World Cup to be at Plymouth. Can we go to first in the queue for a hand out and forget about the football?
There is unlikely to be one straight unencumbered solution to all this but PLYMOUTH PEOPLE NEVER GIVE IN.
Fight every corner you can . I say thankyou to the staff at PWDRO for your past service under difficult conditions.. May this problem soon be resolved . Do enjoy a few days off this Christmas.
TOM JEWELL (lesser half of DFHS2706)”

“I was involved in the successful campaign to keep Tower Hamlets archives open and in the present building in Bancroft Road and also improve the facilities and the access to the records, one of the points that really came to light, was that the interest in the records held in any archives is world wide, as a lot of the comments on this list have shown, I myself have just discovered I possible have an ancestor that comes from the county.
So please do not limit your gathering of views to the two organisations. There are thousands and thousands of people who¿s Family and Local History interests pertain to your area, so please Plymouth City Council don¿t stop them finding out about it by hiding your records away.”