MALDON: HMS Plymouth plan to boost tourism

MALDON'S maritime tourism trade could be thrown a lifeline if a former Royal Navy warship, which could attract 80,000 visitors a year, is moved to the Quay.

Ambitious plans to move HMS Plymouth, which is most famous for her role in the Falklands War, to Sadd's Wharf and open up a floating museum have been revealed to save the 250-tonne boat from the scrap heap.

After a three-year campaign backed by Plymouth City Council, plans to return the boat to her homeland were axed after a failure to find a suitable berth.

Maldon local and Falklands War veteran David Hutchings, has since put the wheels in motion, collecting local petitions for support, and is now looking to submit formal proposals to Maldon Town Council.

Mr Hutchings, 53, said: "She is a piece of our heritage which is based on the Royal Navy.

"It could be a big tourist attraction for Maldon, especially because once up and running, it could be self-sufficient and she could quite easily find a site on the mud at Maldon."

If the warship were to be berthed at Maldon, the mud would have to be dredged up to allow the boat to move into its new mooring.

Mr Hutchings has so far had positive responses from all of the companies, individuals and authorities he has questioned about the feasibility of this landmark coming to Maldon.

He said it would cost £100,000 to buy the vessel and £60,000 to move her to the Essex coast but, once up and running, ticket sales would cover the overheads.

Shaun Morgan, project manager for fast-attack vessel the Defender, based at Heybridge, said: "Knowing the interest the Defender has generated since being in the Blackwater, I think she would be a huge boost to tourism for the Maldon area. We get about 500 hits a month on the website for information, which is good, but figures I have seen for visitors when HMS Plymouth was last open to the public are almost 80,000 people per year.

"We will certainly try to help David if we can and it will be nice to have some company for the Defender."

Maldon's deputy mayor Stephen Savage said: "I think it would be an excellent addition to the town and would complement the Combined Military Services Museum, which has the largest collection outside London.

"It would draw in tourists and would also be an excellent resource for Maldon's Sea Scouts."

The proposal will be discussed by Maldon Town Council at a meeting on Monday evening.

A Maldon District Council spokesman said: "HMS Plymouth had been discussed when looking for a more permanent base for the Maldon Sea Cadets. However, we are currently working with the Sea Cadets on alternative possibilities."

HMS Plymouth was named after the Devon city where she was built. After decommissioning she was bought by a charity, the Warship Preservation Trust, from the Ministry of Defence and opened to the public at Plymouth, Glasgow and, since 1991, Birkenhead on Merseyside.

The Warship Preservation Trust is currently owned by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Company following the demise of the trust.

What do you think? Could the HMS Plymouth pull in the visitors in Maldon? Contact the newsdesk on 01245 603 360 or email us on newsdesk@essexchronicle.co.uk.