This report was taken from the Gloucestershire Echo website:
10:30 – 05 September 2005
Jet Age Museum campaigners have suffered another setback in their bid to build a permanent home. Spiralling costs mean they cannot afford to build the museum at Gloucestershire Airport.
They are putting the contract back out to tender in the hope of getting a cheaper offer.
Despite the setback, campaigners say they are determined to carry on and fulfil their dream of a permanent museum dedicated to Gloucestershire’s aviation heritage.
Chairman John Lewer said: “The quotation Barnwood Construction gave us last year was for a smaller building.
“We decided the building had to be bigger. Due to increases in the price of steel, the cost went up by £100,000. It wasn’t Barnwood’s fault. They’re just not in the business of making a loss.”
He added: “It hasn’t helped that Tewkesbury Borough Council isn’t handing out any grants for two years. We were relying on that money.
“We’ve put the contract back out to tender but I’m not hopeful another company will quote a price significantly lower.
“It’s frustrating but we’ve been going so long and had so many setbacks that this isn’t going to stop us.”
The Jet Age Museum has outline planning permission for a new home at the airport.
Mr Lewer said another option was to open a museum at Brockworth Enterprise School.
He said: “It’s a fallback plan if all else fails. The museum would be incorporated into the school and students would get involved.
“Brockworth Enterprise School has an excellent reputation and the headteacher is forward-thinking. It would be a unique partnership and just round the corner from where many of the planes were built.”
The Jet Age Museum has been closed since 2000 when its hangar base at Staverton was acquired for development.
Sign In
