Bletchley Park_reaction to disappointing Govt petition response(fwd)

    *NEWS RELEASE*

28 August 2009

BLETCHLEY  PARK  TRUST  ENCOURAGED  BY  ENORMOUS  PUBLIC  SUPPORT  
FOLLOWING  GOVERNMENT  RESPONSE  TO  NUMBER  10  PETITION

Following the disappointing government response to the Downing Street 
petition urging the Prime Minister to offer assistance to Bletchley 
Park, the Bletchley Park Trust has been boosted by an overwhelming 
reaction of public support.

The petition was set up by an independent supporter and closed in May of 
this year with 21,920 signatures (full details below).  The government 
responded that although it agreed, "the buildings on the Bletchley Park 
site are of significant historic importance and, although recognising 
the excellent work being carried out there, at present it has no plans, 
nor the resources, to extend its sponsorship of museums and galleries 
beyond the present number."

Simon Greenish, director of the Bletchley Park Trust said, "The support 
we are requesting from the government is modest. 

"The investment from English Heritage and Milton Keynes Council has 
provided great help with the substantial infrastructure works needed.  A 
major application has been placed with the Heritage Lottery Fund which, 
if successful, will provide funding for the development of the museum 
over the next three to five years after which, as our business plan has 
established, Bletchley Park will be self-supporting.  However unless and 
until the Park has been restored, it is the operational costs of running 
this large and ageing site that the Trust struggles to meet.  The Trust 
is asking the government to provide £250,000 per year until the museum 
has been developed in order to support the growing workload associated 
with the ever-rising number of visitors.

"Public interest in Bletchley Park continues to rise dramatically and 
we have seen almost a doubling of visitor numbers over the past three 
years.  The public have consistently and overwhelmingly provided us with 
the powerful conviction that they are fully behind our mission to 
transform Bletchley Park into the world-class educational and heritage 
site it deserves to be, reflecting the profound significance of its 
impact on the twentieth century and the way we all live today.  It is 
disappointing that the government feels unable to demonstrate its 
agreement with this."

Amongst the hundreds of people who have expressed encouraging messages 
of support for Bletchley Park Trust since yesterday's announcement was 
Stephen Fry, actor and author, who said, "If we can't save the place 
that arguably did the most to win us the war, what hope is there for us 
as a nation ?" 

Eminent historian, Professor Richard Holmes, said last year, "The work 
here at Bletchley Park was no optional extra; no engaging very British 
sideshow; it was utterly fundamental to the survival of Britain and to 
the triumph of the West and I'm not actually sure that I can think of 
very many other places where I could say something as unequivocal as 
that.  This is sacred ground.  If this isn't worth preserving, what is ?" 

Simon Greenish added, "It is deeply unfortunate that the government do 
not share the sentiment of Professor Holmes in acknowledging the 
importance of Bletchley Park by ensuring a permanent solution is 
achieved for its long term survival."

- ENDS -

http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/news/docview.rhtm/589498


Full Details of the Number 10 Petition 
--------------------------------------
http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page20409

or as follows :

"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to save Bletchley Park."

Details of Petition :

"As has been reported elsewhere, Bletchley Park "have two to three more 
years of survival". The Bletchley Park Trust receives no external 
funding. It has been deemed ineligible for funding by the National 
Lottery, and turned down by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Please 
do not allow this crucial piece of both British and World culture to 
disappear. If ever an example were needed of Britain leading the world, 
this surely would be it. To allow it to fall into the hands of 
developers would be simply unconscionable."

Read the Government's response

Thank you for your e-petition.

The Government agrees that the buildings on the Bletchley Park site are 
of significant historic importance and, although recognising the 
excellent work being carried out there, at present it has no plans, nor 
the resources, to extend its sponsorship of museums and galleries beyond 
the present number.

A number of things are being done to help Bletchley Park.
 
English Heritage, Milton Keynes Council and English Partnerships have 
worked jointly with the Trust that runs the Park to prepare a 
Conservation Management Plan for the site.   English Partnerships has 
acquired some parts of the site and will ensure that any development of 
these areas is planned and delivered in a way that reflects the 
important historical nature of the Park.  English Partnerships has also 
invested in the core site and contributed funds towards an emergency 
repair programme on Block D, the largest derelict wartime building in 
Britain, and is planning to undertake further substantial works to 
sensitively refurbish this important listed building. 
 
The Heritage Lottery Fund's regional development team, along with the 
DCMS sponsored  Museums, Libraries and Archives Council in the South 
East have been in regular contact with the Bletchley Park Trust, 
offering advice and guidance on how best to put together a robust 
application for funding.   In addition, the Trust has now made a further 
application to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

In November 2008 English Heritage announced the award of a grant of 
£330,000 to Bletchley Park to cover urgently needed repairs to the roof, 
and in March of this year it was announced that Milton Keynes Council, 
in partnership with English Heritage, will provide a further £600,000 
for critical restoration work.