Hovercraft Museum sees record numbers through its doors on weekend

Despite the bad weather on Saturday, the museum in Lee-on-the-Solent saw nearly 300 people through its doors.

People from across the country – as well as some from overseas – took advantage of a deal the museum was running to have a look at its range of vessels.

As reported in The News, trustees of the museum are in talks with the Homes & Communities Agency to save the SRN4 hovercraft.The 250-tonne vessels could be scrapped as the land they are on is needed for development by the HCA.Speaking to The News, trustee Warwick Jacobs said: ‘Having so many people visit us last weekend was fantastic.‘We had people from Belgium and France come to us as well as people from Birmingham and Kent.‘Because we only officially opened in January, it is hard to know if the visitors are because of the SRN4s.‘We have nothing to compare it to but it is great so many people are taking an interest.’Although no decision has been made on the future of the two vessels, which are the biggest hovercraft in the world, trustees are ‘cautiously optimistic’.They hope they can save the Princess Anne, which is in the better condition of the two. Mr Jacobs said unfortunately the Princess Margaret might be scrapped.‘We are cautiously optimistic about the future of Princess Anne,’ he said.‘We’re still in talks with the land agents but unfortunately fences have been put up around Princess Margaret with signs saying “dangerous structure”.’The online petition has reached almost 21,000 signatures. To show support visit the Hovercraft Museum Facebook page which has a link to the petition. Go to facebook.com/groups/hovercraftmuseum.