MoD blasted over base visitor centre project

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Friday, November 20, 2009
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This is Cornwall

A HIGH-RANKING naval officer has accused defence chiefs of 'scuppering' plans for a visitor centre in Devonport Naval Base.

Rear-Admiral Michael Wood, chairman of the Plymouth Naval Base Visitor Centre Company, blamed the Ministry of Defence for further delaying the project, proposed more than a decade ago.

He told The Herald a commercially viable centre in South Yard celebrating Plymouth's maritime past, present and future had looked viable, until the MoD announced it had not budgeted for such a project, and urged the city to explore 'synergies' for a jointly-funded attraction.

"These plans were scuppered by the MoD's ongoing financial crisis and its withdrawal of support to provide some of the key components," he said, adding that all previous efforts had failed due to "the inability of the city and the MoD to see this as a joint endeavour which brought considerable benefit to both parties".

However, he and the trust members remained committed to the project and were now working with the city council to explore ways of delivering an attraction of national significance symbolising the city's maritime heritage Britain's dependence on the sea and sea power.

"It's early days but the eventual solution is likely to incorporate many aspects, and thus sites, of Plymouth's maritime heritage," he said, adding that the project would bring economic benefits, boost regeneration plans and have a strong educational component.

Rear Adml Wood also called for a meeting of key stakeholders to agree a way forward for the project and ensure it could weather the political and financial uncertainties of the next few years.

An MoD spokesman said a visitor centre was not the best use of its limited funds and the company should explore options for developing the project in collaboration with city authorities.

David James, operations manager for the South West Regional Development Agency, said: "A visitor centre might be a future part of development on a former MoD site.

"However, pressure on the RDA's budget means it is not in a position to allocate any new and additional funding for specific projects such as a visitor centre."

No-one from Plymouth City Council was available for comment.

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  • Profile image for This is Cornwall

    by Rick O'Shay, zog

    Saturday, November 21 2009, 9:12PM

    “Mick quote:
    "We can see with our own eyes the mess British education is in"

    Really Mick?

    Can you justify that staement?”

  • Profile image for This is Cornwall

    by Mick, Barbican

    Saturday, November 21 2009, 7:51PM

    “Biker quote- "Mick Barbican do not be conned by BNP lies about education. Their leadership is more obsessed with Nazi Germany's history and traditions"

    We can see with our own eyes the mess British education is in..:)
    As for Nazism, the BNP called it "evil" in one of its party political TV broadcasts.
    I regard Adolf as a psycho whose mass murder of the Jews was a disgrace, (and I'm a BNP member)”

  • Profile image for This is Cornwall

    by ian, Plymouth

    Saturday, November 21 2009, 3:49PM

    “By the way I am not a Nazi nor am I anti Semetic just fed up with the Holocaust being used as a smoke screen to justify the horrors that are currently going on today thats all.
    Anyway isn`t this supposed to be about Plymouth`s NAVAL heritage?”

  • Profile image for This is Cornwall

    by Biker, Mutley

    Saturday, November 21 2009, 3:20PM

    “Mick of Barbican do not be conned by BNP lies about education. Their leadership is more obsessed with Nazi Germany's history and traditions. Their leader even denies the holocaust and mass murder in the concentration camps that our troops saw with their own eyes on liberation. History lessons from the BNP... you must be joking !”

  • Profile image for This is Cornwall

    by Mick, Barbican

    Saturday, November 21 2009, 1:57PM

    “An interest in our heritage must begins in the schools.
    From the BNP website-
    "We are against the ¿trendy¿ teaching methods that have made Britain one of the most poorly educated nations in Europe. We will end the practice of politically correct indoctrination in all its guises and we will restore discipline in the classroom, give authority back to teachers and put far greater emphasis on training young people in the industrial and technological skills necessary in the modern world. We will also seek to instill in our young people knowledge of and pride in the history, cultures and heritage of Britain"”

  • Profile image for This is Cornwall

    by ian, Plymouth

    Saturday, November 21 2009, 1:11PM

    “Plymouth as a City has little to offer the tourist. No beaches, a Dockyard and Warships tour (no warships usually) and thats about it.
    Southyard could with some investment and vision become a Naval Heritage Centre that could easily knock the spots off Portsmouth.
    However as the article says the MOD don`t have the cash and Plymouth City Council lack the vision and drive to take a lead in Developing for the City something that would Ultimately become a profitable asset and generate a reason to come to Plymouth as well as generate profit for the MOD and the City together.
    South Yard practically the Birth place of the Royal Navy it has the only remaining working Gallows, a fantastic museum and the facilities to host many other exhibitions, including ships.
    Portsmouth have recognised the benefit of being a Naval town and have monopolised their Heritage with the Mary Rose, the Victory, HMS Warrior, the submarine museum to name but a few.
    Plymouth it seems cannot even arrange for its own name sake frigate and falklands veteran to be brought home.
    It does seem pretty obvious to the People of Plymouth that the only legacy we are going to inherit from our loyal service to this country is to break up and bury its nuclear rubbish in our backyards.
    This City has been deliberately kept isolated and poorly connected to the rest of the country. It has nothing to offer tourists and is of little interest to serious business (to isolated). Once the last of the industry leaves the city and the work force is on its knees, the business of dismantling this nuclear mess can begin as cheaply as possible with a workforce that will be GRATEFUL for the work.
    Plymouth the centre of excellence for all your waste incineration and nuclear disposal needs!
    IF WE CAN`T BURN IT WE`LL BURY IT! SATISFACTION GUARANTEED.”

  • Profile image for This is Cornwall

    by Dave, Port Everglade

    Saturday, November 21 2009, 11:04AM

    “The RN can't even pay for Harriers for it's aircraft carrier....let alone anything else.”

  • Profile image for This is Cornwall

    by ukwrecker, Plymouth

    Saturday, November 21 2009, 9:48AM

    “It's does not surprise me in the lease what the MOD does about Devonport, after all, we are only good to use as a Dumping Ground for Decommissioned Nuclear Submarines and the storage of Nuclear waste, I feel quite sorry for the Residence of Barn Barton considering what is stored underground, and after all, the British Government were going to use south yard for the storage of the Nuclear reactors from the decommissioned subs, as far as the British Government are concerned, Plymouth is only good for the S*** to be stored in, even if we do have a maritime heritage and well as for our local MP like Allison Seabeck and Linda Gilroy are concerned, as long as they are claiming their over the top expenses and getting paid over the top pay packets for doing next to nothing for their constituent, they will continue shovelling their S*** and pulling the wool over the eyes of the people of Plymouth, and after all look at the prime example of an MP Derek Jameson made his packet out of being a Politician and done sod all for the people of Plymouth”

  • Profile image for This is Cornwall

    by Mick, Barbican

    Saturday, November 21 2009, 9:28AM

    “Quote- "a commercially viable centre celebrating Plymouth's maritime past, present and future"

    Ha ha ha, as if Labour would back anything celebrating great British culture and tradition!
    As for the MOD, they can't spare any cash because they need every penny to pay for teabags for their 80,000 (repeat eighty thousand) workers”

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