Culture leaders issue plea to lottery bosses to back £3.9m bid to build new Royal Marines Museum in Portsmouth

Civic chiefs have warned that if the National Lottery Heritage Fund rejects the bid for a second time it would spell disaster for the project.

Councillor Steve Pitt, Portsmouth’s culture boss, said: ‘It would be disastrous if the Royal Marines Museum didn’t get back to Portsmouth.

‘I would urge the National Lottery Heritage Fund to ensure the museum is able to find a new home in Portsmouth, the home of the Royal Navy.

‘It almost beggars belief the museum could be anywhere other than Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.’

This is the second time the National Museum of the Royal Navy has appealed to the lottery fund for money, following the shock rejection of a previous bid.

Professor Dominic Tweddle warned ‘serious consideration’ would have to be taken over the museum's future in Portsmouth if their latest appeal failed and said the site may have to be built in the north of the UK, where ‘other funding opportunities’ were available.

Culture minister Caroline Dinenage urged the National Lottery Heritage Fund to support the museum’s bid.

The Gosport MP told The News: ‘The Portsmouth Harbour area has been the proud home of the Royal Navy for centuries and the history of the Royal Marines is rooted in Gosport and Portsmouth.

‘It makes no sense at all to have a museum anywhere else.'

Labour’s shadow defence minister, Stephen Morgan, said it ‘falls on the shoulders’ of the National Lottery Heritage Fund to help make the new museum a reality.

The Portsmouth South MP added: ‘Since the Royal Marines’ creation in 1664 they have been involved in some of the country’s most significant battles – without them, many of us wouldn’t be here today. The least we can do is ensure that their story is heard.

‘That’s why I was proud to join the campaign as a patron for a new museum, and only last week was lobbying business to be help bring a new Royal Marines Museum to our naval base.

‘It falls on the shoulders of those who share our passion for the armed forces and our nation’s heritage to help make this new museum a reality, and that of course includes the National Lottery Heritage Fund.’

Former defence secretary Penny Mordaunt, Portsmouth North MP, added she was supporting the bid and said: ‘The Royal Marines are part of the naval service. Without their story being properly told Portsmouth’s naval heritage attractions will be incomplete.

‘And what a story it is, too – our nation owes them so much.’