UK Government Will Not Release Funds for Bletchley

UK Government Will Not Release Funds for Bletchley

The UK government has denied funding for Bletchley Park computing centre, despite the growing support from the public. More than 20,000 joined a signature campaign urging the government to preserve the site. The Bletchley survivors have been recently honoured; however, some groups worry if the site could last for long. 
 

Bletchley was used during the Second World War to crack enemy codes. It is best known as Station X, where ciphers and codes of various Axis countries were decrypted. 

 

“The buildings on the Bletchley Park site are of significant historic importance and, although recognising the excellent work being carried out there, at present it has no plans, nor the resources, to extend its sponsorship of museums and galleries beyond the present number,"  the government stated.

 

Without the government's support, Bletchley will lose most of its original exhibits.  The site is operated by the Bletchley Park Trust and is currently open to the public. 

 

Bletchley Park Trust director Simon Greenish said,  “A major application has been placed with the Heritage Lottery Fund which, if successful, will provide funding for the development of the museum over the next three to five years after which, as our business plan has established, Bletchley Park will be self-supporting."

 

“However unless and until the Park has been restored, it is the operational costs of running this large and ageing site that the Trust struggles to meet. The Trust is asking the government to provide £250,000 per year until the museum has been developed in order to support the growing workload associated with the ever-rising number of visitors.”