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Downing Street e-petition demands action

By Lester Haines • Get more from this author

Posted in Bootnotes, 30th July 2008 10:20 GMT

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Those among you who feel strongly that the government should intervene to save Bletchley Park for the nation are invited to sign an e-petition aimed at prompting just such action.

The petition states: "Please do not allow this crucial piece of both British and World culture to disappear. If ever an example were needed of Britain leading the world, this surely would be it. To allow it to fall into the hands of developers would be simply unconscionable."

As we recently reported, Station X needs a substantial cash injection to save it from falling to pieces. Last week, a group of the UK's top computer scientists sent a letter to the Times calling for Bletchley Park to be made the home of a national museum of computing.

It said: “As a nation we cannot allow this crucial and unique piece of both British and world heritage to be neglected in this way. The future of the site, buildings, resources and equipment at Bletchley Park must be preserved for future generations.”

Andy Clark, trustee and director of the National Museum of Computing, explained to El Reg why such a museum is needed: "We're working with the Bletchley Park Trust to make this happen - it's far too important to lose. We need £7m over the next three years to become self-supporting. And we'd like to work with the other computing museum which was based in Swindon and is currently a mobile exhibit."

The Bletchley Park Trust last month switched on an online donations system, and the public can also offer its support by actually visiting the historic site. There are ticket details here. ®

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