Press Release Eden Camp:

Friday, July 30, 1999

"20 million debt - Armouries may close"

When will they learn? You can not keep building subsidised attractions in this Country that are in direct competition with private enterprise.

Millions of pounds have been wasted and millions are going to be wasted.

Transperiance Bradford, 18m opened 1996 closed 1997

Royal Armouries, Leeds, 42million opened 1996 and struggling, 20million in debt.

Earth Centre, Doncaster, 40 million and failing with 10 million more about to be invested.

Centre for Popular Music, Sheffield, 18 million and not doing as it should.

And still a list a mile long of proposed Millennium projects to go, all of which I predict will follow the above.

They are playing with people's lives not only in the above businesses, but also in existing privately and publicly funded attractions and museums.

As areas that take on these funded Centrepieces do so for the prestige, They should remember that in two or three years time, it will be the people of those areas that will be called upon to subsidise this growing collection of "White Elephants". (Or as in the Earth Centre - "Green Elephant").

Regards

Steve Jaques
MUSEUM DIRECTOR

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Malton, North Yorkshire
Telephone 01653 697777

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