Vision of heritage park plan revealed
An artist's impression of what the Prestongrange Heritage Museum could look like if their plans are supported by East Lothian Council.
The Battle of Prestonpans Heritage Trust this week revealed an artist’s impression, above, of what the Prestongrange Heritage Museum could look like if their plans are supported by East Lothian Council.
The Battle Trust, which has been campaigning for a Battle Centre and Tapestry Pavilion since 2007, has been negotiating with the council over the last two years to come up with a joint plan for the museum site.
They want to see the original miners’ bath house transformed into a Battle Centre, with the creation of an adjoining pavilion for the battle tapestry. But they also want to see substantial investment by the local authority into the rest of the museum.
The council is due to finalise its capital budget this month and the Battle Trust is hoping that this will include a commitment to securing the future of the museum site.
Gareth Jones, chairman of the Battle Trust, said: “In our discussions the council has been extremely enthusiastic about our vision for the whole Prestongrange site.
“We are quite prepared to raise the £2 million needed for the Battle Centre and tapestry pavilion, but there is no point in such an investment if the rest of the museum is not improved.
“We asked local artist Andrew Hillhouse to create this impression of the site as it might be, with the right commitment.
“Our research indicates that at least 100,000 visitors would come to such a heritage park, and that would certainly be good for the local economy.
“Unfortunately, we can’t move forward with our plans until we have a formal commitment by East Lothian Council.
“Hopefully that will be forthcoming this month as part of their future capital programme.
“This is a great opportunity for the council to create a fantastic facility at Prestongrange, for locals and visitors — at a site that desperately needs investment before it becomes beyond repair.”
Andrew Hillhouse, the local artist behind the new impression, has already painted a series of dramatic paintings for the Battle Trust showing key scenes from the famous 1745 battle.
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Thursday 17 May 2012
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