Our thanks to Jessica for this latest update from the Classic Boat Museum. Ed
Over the winter of 2011/2012 the Museum vacated its long occupied premises at Newport Quay, at the request of IW Council who wished to redevelop the quay side site.
Whilst we were sad to leave Newport, a home as part of the East Cowes Waterfront regeneration being run by SEEDA was the right move for us. We knew our premises at Albany Road, East Cowes, may not be our final place on the East Cowes Waterfront site, but we gained long needed security for our future by being part of the regeneration scheme.
SEEDA abolished
Unfortunately SEEDA, the South East England Development Agency, who were responsible for East Cowes Waterfront, were abolished by central government, and their assets transferred to HCA, the Homes and Communities Agency.
HCA are seeking redevelopment partners for the remainder of East Cowes Waterfront, but unlike SEEDA who saw Maritime Heritage – led by the Classic Boat Museum – as an integral part of the regeneration, HCA see Maritime Heritage as ‘aspirational’.
Premises likely to go on the open market
This means the site is likely to be parcelled off and sold to the highest bidders, which puts the Museum at risk as we don’t have the financial power to bid for part of the site at commercial rates, particularly when other bidders will be seeking commercial redevelopment opportunities such as retail, housing and the proposed marina.
We’ve been told by HCA we will need to vacate the site by the end of 2015.
A low rent site in Cowes needed
It goes without saying we are looking at other possible locations, ideally in Cowes, but as a small volunteer led organisation our finances dictate that we need premises at a very low rent.
Realistically these may not be easy to come by, and if so the future for the museum is very bleak. Of course, we are also looking at other options too, including grant funding and partnering with one of the site developers, but, again, in the current economic climate the odds are stacked against us.
It may be that, worst case, we need to consider packing up our exhibits and putting them into storage.
Award-winning museum
The museum is approaching its 20th year, and over this time has won many awards, including for the restoration of Rosabelle, the ex Beken launch, and more recently from Solent Protection Society.
In 2013 the museum achieved Arts Council “Accredited Museum Status” which is uncommon for volunteer led museums, and demonstrates that the museum works to the very highest standards of professionalism and conservation.
Image: r36ariadne under CC BY 2.0
