Uncertainty over future for city warship HMS Plymouth
CONFUSION continues to surround the future of the decommissioned warship HMS Plymouth, following reports she has been sold for scrap, writes Defence Reporter Tristan Nichols.
A number of websites are reporting that the Devonport-built frigate – which played a key role in the Falklands conflict – is to broken up.
But yesterday a spokesman for Peel Ports – which owns the port in Birkenhead, Merseyside, where the former Type 12 frigate has been based for more than 20 years – said he was "unable" to confirm any scrapping operation at this time.
"We are obviously very sorry that no permanent home has been found for HMS Plymouth given her rich and proud history," said the spokesman.
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"We have been working closely with partners throughout the consultation period, including National Historic Ships, and we aim to ensure all items of historic value are safely removed and retained for preservation.
"We are unable to confirm any scrapping operation at present."
It is the latest twist in a long-running saga involving the vessel.
In recent years a number of attempts have been made to buy the vessel, but the problem has always been finding a suitable berth for her.
The Warship Management Ltd group led the original campaign to bring HMS Plymouth back to Plymouth.
But in 2008 its chairman, Mike Critchley – himself a former naval Lieutenant Commander – announced the campaign had "failed" due to a lack of support.
Speaking about the current situation he told The Herald: "It is very sad and just tragic that it seems like it is going this way.
"Personally, from what I've heard, I think she is very close to being sold to the Greeks or Turks.
"If that happens we are losing the only ship that is left that fought in the Falklands.
"Sadly the truth is that if someone came in out of the blue and bought her today, there would be nowhere to put her in any case. That has always been the problem."
Earlier this month the former Plymouth MP, Lord Owen, blasted Plymouth City Council and the Royal Navy stating: "You don't deserve a history if you are not prepared to fight for it."
Lord David Owen, who was MP for Devonport for more than 18 years, launched the blistering attack when asked about HMS Plymouth's future.
The former Foreign Secretary and leader of the Social Democratic Party was part of The Warship Management Ltd campaign to bring the vessel down to Plymouth where she would have been opened as a permanent tourist attraction.
Captain David Pentreath, who was the Commanding Officer of HMS Plymouth during the Falklands conflict, said he is "sad" if the scrapping rumours are true.
"It would be rather cruel if she was sold for scrap in this, the 30th anniversary year of the Falklands conflict," he said.
"People have been trying very hard for a number of years to preserve her for the future.
"It saddens me that it seems that no-one can save her."
Martin Slater, secretary of the HMS Plymouth Association and former crew member, added: "It is a confusing situation, but we believe that she is going to be scrapped.
"We don't know when or where but we believe she is on her way."
After being decommissioned from the Royal Navy in 1988, HMS Plymouth was acquired by the Warship Preservation Trust and it became a tourist attraction at numerous ports across the country.
But in 2006 the Warship Preservation Trust closed down and Peel Ports acquired the vessel.
Comments
by mollusc71
Wednesday, March 28 2012, 11:42PM
“If HMS Plymouth is scrapped it would be a stupid loss for everyone. However there is no reason to make the process easy for Peel Ports or Plymouth City Council.
For those who care...and maybe who have a bit of spare time on their hands, there are a few last actions that will be more productive than shrugging, or looking at your shoes and whistling.
(1) The imminent scrapping of HMS Plymouth is not in the news in any significant way, (so well done to those on-line publications and discussion boards who have picked up on it...like this one). This is a highly satisfactory situation for Peel Ports and Plymouth City Council, especially as it is the 30th anniversary of her deployment to the Falklands.
In order to change this situation start contacting your local press with the story. It's really very easy (scarily so) to get a story into print (or on-line, or on the air). Journalists are under resourced, and overworked, so these days they are reduced to copying each others "copy" or copying stories from news wires like AP. All you need to do is to telephone them and offer the story that you have read above, after all you will see it replicated almost word for word at other news sites on the internet. This obviously works best if you are a former sailor having served on HMS Plymouth as then you can give them a unique quote/comment/personnel angle. This should be replicated, not only in Plymouth and Birkenhead, but also at any town that has an interest or association with HMS Plymouth (Portsmouth, Falmouth, Rosyth, etc). For those that care, and who have a personnel story (like some of the commentators here), remember that local papers, radio stations, and news sites do not have to be local to you. You can e-mail to a paper in Merseyside the same story that you e-mailed to a paper in Scotland.
(2) E-mail all of the local councilors and other politicians in Plymouth, Birkenhead, Portsmouth, etc, (where ever you live basically) and briefly explain the situation and request that they reply with their position on the matter. You will get their contact details from the internet. Just send a brief e-mail to question what they have done so far on the matter, and what they intend to do next. Use the same e-mail for all politicians, as they probably don't talk to each other much, Also they are often not very knowledgeable about the World beyond local politics, so keep it simple for them. Think of this as an investment. When their agents come a pestering you at election time you can then berate them with something.
(3) Last but not least...Peel Ports! You may want to let the bile flow with the e-mail you send to them. Then forward it to everyone in your address book, and ask them to send it to Peel Ports as well. If you can afford the price of a stamp then send them a letter. That way they have to pay someone to open it.
Just a few ideas to get you going. I'm sure you can think up more as you go!”
by MountainPass
Monday, March 26 2012, 11:53PM
“Another wasted opportunity.
I used to love living in this city, but that just about sums the place up these days. Plymouth has so much potential and it keeps squandering opportunity after opportunity. We need a leader with the drive and vision to go out there and makes things like this happen.”
by fiest1406
Monday, March 26 2012, 11:36PM
“How can this be...Devonport regeneration had 50 million...some of this could quite easily be used to set up and run a heritage centre in South-Yard. How is it we can find 47 million for a Life Centre nobody can afford to use when just a fraction of this could have been used to fund a birth for a major tourist attraction, just like the Belfast in London..HMS Plymouth on the pier? I find this Council wanting...worse still useless when it comes to preserving our Heritage for future generations.”
by GreenGOM
Monday, March 26 2012, 5:46AM
“As part of the infrastructure needed to utilise Plymouth's unique potential as a south west tourism hub, the city really needs a maritime museum to equal or surpass the ones in other cities like Portsmouth. Imagine a maritime museum with both HMS Plymouth and the Mayflower replica as the centre pieces, it could bring in so much tourist money to the city. We keep being told that the future of Plymouth lies in tourism and the University. These two vessels represent a significant chunk of local maritime history. There must be so much more here too, both materially and anecdotally.
I'm almost considering starting a fund raising campaign to try it. Anyone interested?”
by PCCwatcher
Monday, March 26 2012, 1:57AM
“All too late. Already bought for scrapping in Turkey.
The helicopter has been removed. The rest of Devonport's last ship will be towed away in a few weeks.
Perhaps PCC will be able to buy a bit of the scrapped metal and use it to create a statue of Pengelly - as a reminder to future generations of the person who led the decline of Plymouth.
I'm sure some of the developers who have made fortunes from her strange decisions will contribute the money.
They can bring it from Turkey aboard the ships bringing in the rubbish for incineration......
It will look nice next to that strange lobster that looks over the Barbican - or is that already a statue of her?”
by Magical123
Sunday, March 25 2012, 10:18PM
“It would make a great focus of a new pier :) somewhere central a great visitor attraction and also a permanent reminder of what once was for future generations .”
by alfachats
Sunday, March 25 2012, 10:12PM
“As has already been said below it's a real shame HMS Plymouth is going to scrap, has anyone about starting an e-petition... maybe she could be saved if there is enough interest.”
by Bavaria
Sunday, March 25 2012, 7:58PM
“Rattler11,
PCC do not want anything unless they get a Backhander.”
by Tcrush
Saturday, March 24 2012, 9:56PM
“If we could get HMS Plymouth as an attraction than that would be great. However, I don't see any chance of this realistically happening.
The Mayflower seems like a much better option. Placed in the barbican, this would go down a treat with the tourists.
Sadly HMS Plymouth will shortly be going to scrap...”
by Greenblackand
Saturday, March 24 2012, 6:55PM
“Of course a place to moor the ship can be found in Plymouth which has such a fantastic and expansive a Waterfront. South Yard in a Dry Dock as suggested by a correspondent last week , or the Barbican, Royal Willam Yard, even Cattedown Wharf. All that is required is a little imagination.
As previously stated, Plymouth has such a naval history and not one ship is preserved.
Portsmouth has HMS Victory, HMS Warrior, and the Mary Rose - Chatham has HMS Cavalier, HMS Gannet, and HMS Ocelot. - Gosport has the submarine HMS Alliance which has just received 3.4 Million from the Heritage Lottery fund for her preservation. PLYMOUTH - NOT ONE SHIP preserved. PCC should encourage a Trust for HMS Plymouth to be established, and then make a Bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund”