Lamb raises concerns over the impact of the 'draw-down' of RAF Neatishead on the Radar Museum

7.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 30th Jul 2004

Norman Lamb has written to the Secretary of State at the MOD and to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport regarding the future of the Air Defence Radar Museum at RAF

Neatishead. The future of the award winning museum is in some doubt following reports of the 'draw-down' of RAF Neatishead.

"The museum has made an invaluable contribution to North Norfolk's heritage," said Mr Lamb. "It would be a great shame were it to close."

Liberal Democrat Councillor Hilary Nelson, who Chairs the North Norfolk Area Museums Committee, has written to Wing Commander Atkinson, Station Commander at RAF Neatishead, expressing the same concerns.

"Museums such as Neatishead are invaluable for all sorts of social and educational reasons not to mention their contribution to our tourism industry," said Cllr Nelson. "How better can our schoolchildren learn about recent history?"

The museum has attracted a number of school visits. The RAF Defence Radar Museum is Registered under the Museums, Libraries and Archives Registration scheme, a quality standards scheme that requires considerable skill and expertise to achieve.