A quick visit to the site today revealed some interesting developments. The Lightning and Jet Provost appear to have been moved ‘next door’ to the old museum where lifesize fibreglass models of various aircraft are made. The Varsity seems to be undergoing dismantling- not sure precisely what’s going on but I really hope this airframe will be saved. The Canberra seems undisturbed for now.
Cornwall aviation heritage centre
Re: Cornwall aviation heritage centre
Dismantling sounds a positive development... keeping my fingers crossed for that particular Vickers product!
Re: Cornwall aviation heritage centre
I do wonder with the complete change of the political landscape in Cornwall, whether a different outcome to the sad and unnecessary closure of a vibrant and successful tourist attraction might have been the case?
Re: Cornwall aviation heritage centre
No
The issues there had nothing whatsoever to do with the sitting MP and everything to do with the local council, which remains unchanged.
The issues there had nothing whatsoever to do with the sitting MP and everything to do with the local council, which remains unchanged.
Re: Cornwall aviation heritage centre
Just posted on Change.org
Beggars belief…..
3 Sept 2024
Sadly, with almost 60,000 signatures against Cornwall Council's decision to move us off the Airport, they won. They also claimed that they had a tenant ready to move into our HAS. Over 18 months on, the site is still empty.
In the meantime, the self-serving decision makers at the Council have killed a thriving tourist attraction which attracted visitors to spend circa £7m per year in the retail and hospitality sector across the local area, Military veterans have lost a special place of remembrance and a place to share their experience with others, our staff have lost their jobs, our volunteers have lost the place created out of the goodness of their hearts, school children have lost an exciting place to learn about aerospace, college students have lost a place to learn STEM, the newly formed charity 'Cornwall Aerospace Education Trust' have lost their resources and several unique heritage aircraft have had to be destroyed as they were just too big to move.
Sadly, we found an alternative site too late - hampered by Covid... and of course the council who offered to fund the move, later denying that they had, whilst being so obstructive to our millionaire investor, that he decided to withdraw from the project.
Well done Cornwall Council.
Thank you to all our supporters . We miss you, our planes, antiquities and our special place every single day. We had something special!
Beggars belief…..
3 Sept 2024
Sadly, with almost 60,000 signatures against Cornwall Council's decision to move us off the Airport, they won. They also claimed that they had a tenant ready to move into our HAS. Over 18 months on, the site is still empty.
In the meantime, the self-serving decision makers at the Council have killed a thriving tourist attraction which attracted visitors to spend circa £7m per year in the retail and hospitality sector across the local area, Military veterans have lost a special place of remembrance and a place to share their experience with others, our staff have lost their jobs, our volunteers have lost the place created out of the goodness of their hearts, school children have lost an exciting place to learn about aerospace, college students have lost a place to learn STEM, the newly formed charity 'Cornwall Aerospace Education Trust' have lost their resources and several unique heritage aircraft have had to be destroyed as they were just too big to move.
Sadly, we found an alternative site too late - hampered by Covid... and of course the council who offered to fund the move, later denying that they had, whilst being so obstructive to our millionaire investor, that he decided to withdraw from the project.
Well done Cornwall Council.
Thank you to all our supporters . We miss you, our planes, antiquities and our special place every single day. We had something special!
Re: Cornwall aviation heritage centre
Don’t believe all you read on the web
There are two sides to every story, and there certainly are with this one.
There are two sides to every story, and there certainly are with this one.
Re: Cornwall aviation heritage centre
Well, until I can understand the other side to this story, whatever that may be, the web report seems plausible and that’s all there is to go on - I visited the site a few weeks ago and nothing seems to be happening re an alternative use?
Re: Cornwall aviation heritage centre
Paid a visit to the erstwhile museum site earlier today (30/9). The Varsity is now more or less completely dismantled and is presumably awaiting its transport to St Athan. The fuselage appears to have been blown off its stands and is lying on its side. There does appear to be some damage which is slightly worrying. The aircraft is fairly complete which is good to see.
Re: Cornwall aviation heritage centre
Sad sight to see the Varsity fuselage on its side. I'm sure it was not part of the plan to have it lying like that. I hope the damage isn't too bad.