Save the Textile Conservation Centre

From Andrew Napier at the Southern Daily Echo

THE Government has refused to intervene over the threatened closure of the world-renowned Textile Conservation Centre in Winchester.

The centre trains most of the world’s fabric conservation experts and among the historic textiles it has preserved have been the topsail of Nelson’s HMS Victory, Freddie Mercury’s imitation leather trousers and Henry VIII’s football boots.

The threat to the centre by Southampton University was revealed by the Daily Echo last year sparking a national campaign and international outcry.

An e-petition started on the Prime Minister’s website has attracted more than 3,300 names.

A Government statement said Southampton University has an annual budget of £325m, and “within that total, it is solely responsible for deciding on its mission and strategy including which departments and centres it opens, closes, expands or contracts.

“It is not the Government’s role to override the decisions of the university on this issue.”

Martin Tod, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Winchester reacted angrily. “The Government is wrong to wash its hands of the Textile Conservation Centre,” he said.

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