Uk Govt Response to the 'Save U-534 Petition'.... | Forums

[Ant__.]

For everybody who signed the petition, the Govt have responded today with this statement:

The U-534 U-boat has been in Birkenhead in 1996, on loan from her Danish owners, where she has been on display alongside the collection of the Warship Preservation Trust. The Government welcomes the recent agreement which will enable U-534 U-boat to be acquired by the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive and displayed in Birkenhead as part of the Mersey ferry landing stage visitor centre. But it is not Government policy to provide direct financial support for the preservation of historic ships, other than through the provision of grant-in-aid to sponsored museums which hold vessels of historic significance in their collections.

So I think what they are saying is, "Yes it's a jolly nice U-Boat, but we're not stumping up any cash for it, because we don't have to"

Full page is here

[Celeon999]

This sucks


Sounds like they would *maybe* only pay something when a UK museum would own U-534.

[The_Silent_O]

Actually, this is the same policy here in the USA. Very few museum warships here in the US are actually owned and maintained by the government.

The only two that I know for sure are owned and maintained by our government is the USS Arizona (actually declared a war cemetery and memorial) and the USS Missouri which is docked beside her.

Most of the others are owned in part by local governments but maintained through donations and contributions from corporations. Our (and I stress OURs, Celeon ) U-505 fits into this category.

I posted about my recent visit to the U-505 here:http://forums.ubi.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/857101043/m/88...871066685#8871066685

[hueywolf123]

Same down here, our Government bleats on about our nations history etc, but unless it was owned by Don Bradman or a WWI digger, they couldn't care less.
I'm not saying they weren't important, but I'm just sick and tired of hearing about them.
Governments all across the world only ever have their own retirement fund in mind.

[The_Silent_O]

So Huey, I know about Germany and the UK Museum ships...but what does Australia have for Museum ships?

[Goose_Green]

Typical UK Government approach to things in general, if there is no profit why bother I sometimes feel ashamed to have anything to do with this country at times, it's such a negative attitude this country can have at times, while they waste money on nonsensical projects. U-534 is a genuine testament to our countries survival as the U boats really were the closest to starving out this nation. How quickly people forget.

[hueywolf123]

Originally posted by The_Silent_O:
So Huey, I know about Germany and the UK Museum ships...but what does Australia have for Museum ships?

The tall ship 'James Craig', is one example. It was a Tea Clipper that ended it's working life as a coal scuttle. It was found as a rusted hulk on the coast of Tasmania, where it was transported to Sydney Maritime Museum.
Due to it's significance in our past, it's owners petitioned the government for restoration funding assistance.
They were made an initial promise as long as it involved becoming part of an official museum. The owners signed it over and the government withdrew funding saying it was now part of a museum and funding would be up to the museum.
The museum got what they wanted, the government didn't have to fork out anything, and the owner were left with a bitter taste.
This is not the first of these incidents either, no wonder the private sector is so nervous in these matters.

[M0ttie]

We have a wonderful institution here called Camelot who run the National Lottery who rake in millions for charities and the like, it would've been nice to see some of that cash going to causes like this.
Problem is its all going on what should be a self funding olympic games and the fat cat developers who will make a fortune out of it(I know, I work for one of them). Either that or obscure 'charities' like 'take the young tearaways on expensive all in holidays' as reward because they've actually managed to get to school once this year and not stab or assault anyone or other equally waste of money ideas.
Real good causes have to fight hard to get lottery cash, other less worthwhile causes dont seem to and when it comes down to saving or preserving parts of our history its normally non existant.
I am in full agreement with Goose's comment on this one....... my only question would be what is 'this country'.
I'm English, not British, Britain isn't a country but it is ruled by a 'British' Parlaiment. I'm not looking to start anything with that last comment BTW as I know some may take issue with it, just my opinion.
Sad to say but we're waiting on my youngest to fly the nest and we're off to better climes thank you very much......

[Goose_Green]

Originally posted by M0ttie:
We have a wonderful institution here called Camelot who run the National Lottery who rake in millions for charities and the like, it would've been nice to see some of that cash going to causes like this.
Problem is its all going on what should be a self funding olympic games and the fat cat developers who will make a fortune out of it(I know, I work for one of them). Either that or obscure 'charities' like 'take the young tearaways on expensive all in holidays' as reward because they've actually managed to get to school once this year and not stab or assault anyone or other equally waste of money ideas.
Real good causes have to fight hard to get lottery cash, other less worthwhile causes dont seem to and when it comes down to saving or preserving parts of our history its normally non existant.
I am in full agreement with Goose's comment on this one....... my only question would be what is 'this country'.
I'm English, not British, Britain isn't a country but it is ruled by a 'British' Parlaiment. I'm not looking to start anything with that last comment BTW as I know some may take issue with it, just my opinion.
Sad to say but we're waiting on my youngest to fly the nest and we're off to better climes thank you very much......

I could not agree any more, excellent post M0ttie

[tuddley3]

Can we write a letter to Mr. Clarkson,the Hamster, and James to go talk to somebody, I trust they could do something for us. Just as long as they leave the Stig behind. I'd hate to see my contribution to this cause go down the toilet.