Cornwall's Aviation Heritage Centre gets offer of new site
The at-risk centre has been approached by a local landowner
Cornwall's Aviation Heritage Centre could have a future after having to shut its doors to the public in October.
The aviation museum that was being forced to close - after Cornwall Council had decided to terminate their lease - has found an alternative site which it believes could be suitable.
Richard Spencer-Breeze, one of the founders of the centre, said: "We've had many many months of difficulty and despair trying to find a solution that would work.
"At the beginning of November we were approached with an offer from a local landowner and we've spent several weeks talking things through with them".
The aviation museum currently has until March 31st 2023 until they have to vacate their base at Cornwall Airport Newquay.
The museum directors have said: "After so many months of facing what seemed like the sad end of our dream, this opportunity is the best thing that could have happened. The new centre will be bigger, better and fully up-to-date.
"It will be an immersive celebration of the aviation heritage of Cornwall and Great Britain and present comprehensive, interactive STEM/aerospace education and training resources for every level, from primary school visits through to apprenticeships and on to the professional development of aerospace and MoD personnel. All the currently endangered aircraft will be saved and there is scope to grow and go on to create one of the UK's best aerospace centres".
Richard added that they can't reveal yet the possible location for their new site.
He told us: "Hopefully in January or late January we'll be able to release that information, that's our intention. What we've been doing in the meantime is we've been surveying the site and we've prepared a basic plan for the new museum that we intend to install there.
"We still have got some significant obstacles to get over".
"The volunteers work tirelessly and to be able to give them news that the thing they care about so much is going to have a future. It's just been a wonderful opportunity for us to give them that news".