Lewes MP visits heritage sites benefiting from government funding

Maria Caulfield MP has visited Bluebell Railway and Newhaven Fort after they received more than £1.5million in government funding to support them during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Bluebell Railway is to receive £727,200 and Newhaven Fort is to receive £850,000.

They are two of 445 organisations which will share £103million to help restart vital repair and maintenance work on cherished heritage sites, to keep venues open and to save jobs and livelihoods.

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This vital funding is from the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage and the Heritage Stimulus Fund – funded by the Government and administered at arms length by Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Both funds are part of the Government’s £1.57billion Culture Recovery Fund which is designed to secure the future of Britain’s museums, galleries, theatres, independent cinemas, heritage sites and music venues with emergency grants and loans.

Mrs Caulfield said “Many of our cultural assets including our most precious heritage sites have been put in danger by the necessary restrictions that have been put in place because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“The government wants to ensure that these cultural assets will not only survive these difficult times but will be able to come back stronger than ever.

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“I was pleased to be able to visit both Bluebell Railway and Newhaven Fort to find out first hand how much this funding will mean to them, and their plans going forward under the Covid-19 restrictions.”