Bletchley Park Trust Encouraged by Enormous Public Support Following Government Response to Number 10 Petition

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, “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.”

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 visitors.

 “Public interest in Bletchley Park continues to rise dramatically with, heading towards, a doubling of visitor numbers in 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.”

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Editors’ Information

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. I

n 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.

Additional Editors’ Information

 • Cost of the Annual Season Ticket is: adults £10, concessions £8 (OAPs and student with valid ID card), children £6 (aged 12 to 16 - children under 12 admitted free of charge) and a family ticket £22.50 (two adults and two children aged 12 to 16). Tickets include a guided tour (subject to availability) and/or the use of an audio guide. On-site parking is £3 per car. • Bletchley Park is open every day except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day: o 1 November to 31 March: weekdays, weekends and Bank Holidays 10.30am - 4.00pm. o 1 April to 31 October: weekdays 9.30am - 5.00pm, weekends and Bank Holidays 10.30am - 5.00pm.

Media contacts

 • Kelsey Griffin, Director – Museum Operations, Bletchley Park Trust, 01908 272 655, kgriffin@bletchleypark.org.uk • Caroline Murdoch, Redworks PR, 01869 810 443, caroline@redworks.co.uk.