Bletchley Park disappointed by government snub

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The government's conclusion that Bletchley Park, the home of WWII code breaking efforts, has received enough funding, has been met with disappointment by those fighting for the historic site’s survival.

Yesterday, the House of Lords’ Deputy Chief Whip, Lord Davies, rejected an appeal put forward by Baroness McIntosh, asking what additional financial support Bletchley Park would receive to ensure it is both restored and developed.

Despite being a site of key significance, both to the industry and the country as a whole, Bletchley Park is far from at its best. Campaigners have been tirelessly raising funds to move the site out of its previous state of disrepair. They’ve been successful thus far, but there is a danger the site will fall further into disrepair if it is not supported adequately going forward.

“The Bletchley Park Trust has indeed received significant investment into the infrastructure of the site for the enormous backlog of critical repairs and for this we are grateful to both English Heritage and Milton Keynes Council. These repairs are already well underway,” said Simon Greenish, chief executive of Bletchley Park Trust, in a statement.

“However, until these building works are completed over the next three years, it is the day-to-day operational costs associated with running this ageing and dilapidated site that the Trust battles to meet.”

Greenish confirmed that his team is working to secure Lottery funding to turn Bletchley Park into the “world-class education and heritage centre it deserves to be.”

“The Trust’s business plan is a solid one and establishes that once capital building works are complete and the museum has been developed, bringing in substantially more visitors, Bletchley Park will be self-supporting,” he added.

“Given the significant impact of Bletchley Park’s wartime work on the outcome of World War Two and the way we all live today, I am disappointed at the negative Government response to Baroness McIntosh’s appeal.”

Click here for a photo tour of Bletchley Park.

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