Priti at the Museum of Power with from left: Mark Gallagher - Trustee, John Lowe – Honorary President, James Gulleford – Assistant Museum Manager, Dr Roger Griffin – Chairman of Trustees and Debbie Thomas – Museum Manager.
Priti visits the Museum of Power to discuss the ‘Powering Forward Project’
Witham’s Member of Parliament, Priti Patel visited the Museum of Power at Langford on Friday 24th March for a briefing on the ‘Powering Forward Project’. She was joined by Chairman of the Board of Museum Trustees, Roger Griffin, Honorary President, John Lowe and the Museum’s management team, Debbie Thomas and James Gulleford.
The ‘Powering Forward Project’ has been under development for several years and is to be funded through a major application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which Priti supported in a letter to the Fund in November 2020. The application was successful and the Museum is to receive more than £1.2 million. It also raised some £240,000 itself in match funding. This vital funding will secure a major expansion of the Museum and its educational facilities, which will begin in May. The expansion will include the creation of a new main entrance with a reception area and gift shop, as well as a new outdoor covered extension to the Steam Pump Tea Room.
Priti’s visit was timed to coincide with English Tourism Week, the annual celebration of English Tourism. Tourism makes up some 80% of the UK’s visitor economy and the Museum of Power is a major asset to the industry. During her visit, Priti examined the plans for the development of the Museum and viewed artists impressions of its new look.
Priti, who is a Patron of the Museum, said: “I am very delighted and proud of the Museum and the volunteers who have powered ahead with this incredible project. The investment in the Museum is only possible because of the grant awards and support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Garfield Weston Foundation, Northumbrian Water Group and many others, who supported the Museum’s match-funding campaign.
“It is an honour to be the Patron of the Museum and I am excited by the progress of the Powering Forward project. We have spent the last decade discussing the future development of the Museum which will deliver an incredible new visitor experience as well as a bespoke educational facility within a historical setting. The Museum showcases a tremendous cultural and heritage asset in the heart of Maldon District.”
Roger Griffin, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees said: “It was a great pleasure to see Priti again and to brief her on our forthcoming project, which promises so much in terms of increasing our appeal to tourists and making the Museum even more special.
“The capital and interpretation works have been tendered and the Museum is now proceeding to finalise planning conditions, appoint contractors and recruit additional staff to deliver the project. It is a very exciting time for us.”
Further information about the Museum of Power and English Tourism Week is available at:
www.museumofpower.org.uk and www.visitbritain.org