Figures just published show that tourism is worth more than £200 million a year to South Tyneside’s economy.
As well as maintaining and creating more than 3,000 jobs, the 5.24 million tourists who visited the region during the financial year 2010-11 injected £211.63 million into the local economy.
Bill Cash, the Member of Parliament for Stone, who supports the campaign to save the Wedgwood Collection has signed the Early Day Motion in Parliament which reads:
“That this House notes with grave concern the decision of the High Court on 19th December, 2011 to allow the contents of the UNESCO-listed Wedgwood Museum to be sold to service a pension deficit; believes the Wedgwood Museum houses a collection of global significance which tells an essential part of the story of Britain from the industrial revolution to today; further notes its particularly important place within the heritage of Staffordshire and the Potteries; regards the legislation governing the Pension Protection Fund to be in need of urgent amendment if it leads to the unintended consequence of placing in jeopardy such a national museum collection; and urges Government Ministers to take every possible action to help ensure that this world-class pottery and fine art collection remains on open display for the people of Britain as part of our national heritage.”
Mr Cash wrote to Ed Vaizey, the Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, about the Collection’s future.
In his reply the Minister said: “I held a meeting on 20th December, 2011 for key cultural organisations, including the Art Fund, Arts Council England, the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Heritage Lottery Fund, to come together to discuss how to save this Collection for the nation. This is a complex situation which may take some time to resolve, however, I will continue to work with this group over the coming months as we seek a way to preserve this Collection and ensure it remains on public display.”
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