Alison Seabeck MP

Working hard for you

City's Heritage Gap

27 January 2010

Sir,

I read with interest the article which suggested that ‘Tourism Chiefs must Step outside the Box’.    This is an issue close to my heart, which resulted in me calling a meeting last Friday to discuss this very issue.  The meeting was attended by many of those groups in the City who care passionately about not only preserving the City’s amazing history but who want to see it presented in a way which supports the visitor economy and encourages people to come to and stay in Plymouth.  We were meeting to look at how we could access some Government funding for a feasibility study to support the development of our arts and maritime heritage offer and which would potentially then be used to attract vital investment into the City.   

Why are we talking about sending people to attractions outside the City?  It is quite frankly no good simply talking about supplying maps to people, as was mentioned in the article, when we have the potential to offer them reasons to stay and spend money in Plymouth and to learn more about our fantastic City and its heritage.  This City has a real opportunity to promote itself as a visitor attraction with the 400 anniversary of the Sailing of the Mayflower coming up and the possible benefit of being a World Cup City. 

At my meeting it was clear that there are there are good people in the City, people who lovingly restore and protect the papers, films and artefacts who have a vision of what could be achieved and who want to make full use of the government and other funds which are on offer to attract investment and boost visitor numbers.  However we need clear leadership to achieve this.   I would hope that the City Council would support that aim and do all it can to access those Government monies like the ‘Seachange’ programme.   I for one do not want to read about money being turned down or sent back by the Council because it doesn’t know how to use it.  What has to happen is for all these elements to be drawn under one vision so that the City has a development plan which is attractive to visitors, provides vital jobs and which is sustainable. 

Yours sincerely

Alison Seabeck MP