§ 9. Mr. Austin-WalkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the royal arsenal site at Woolwich. [818]
§ Mr. SoamesA development plan has recently been completed for the whole of the royal arsenal west site. That will form the basis of negotiations for the transfer of the site from my Department to English Partnerships. The east site was vacated recently and we hope to market the site next year, when investigations into the contamination are complete.
§ Mr. Austin-WalkerDoes the Minister agree that the 75-acre site, which is derelict industrial land that once had 80,000 people employed on it, presents an unarguable case for a defence diversification strategy? Would he accept that the Royal Artillery Heritage museum is a project for the regeneration of that site, Woolwich and the Greenwich waterfront? Will he outline a timetable for reaching agreement with English Partnerships and for a start on the renovation of the 15 listed buildings on the site?
§ Mr. SoamesI entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman, who has been a doughty champion of his constituency interest. It is an important site, with some extremely important buildings on it. I also agree that the Royal Artillery Heritage museum is—possibly—a worthwhile operation to have on that site. Other people are also interested in it. Negotiations for the transfer of the west site to English Partnerships are in train.
A master development plan for the whole area is, as the hon. Gentleman knows, being drawn up and will be finalised as soon as it can be, in consultation with the London borough of Greenwich. The hon. Gentleman may be assured that my Department will play its role to the full in achieving a satisfactory outcome in a very important matter for his constituency and the nation.
§ Sir Geoffrey Johnson SmithIs my hon. Friend aware that there are many hundreds of thousands of gunners, including former gunners among hon. Members on both sides of the House, who have contributed millions of pounds to ensure that the site will be developed, not only in memory of the royal artillery as part of this country's heritage, but for very many other reasons which have been well advanced by the hon. Member for Woolwich (Mr. Austin-Walker)? Will my hon. Friend look kindly on the fact that voluntary contributions are substantial and growing?
§ Mr. SoamesMy hon. Friend, as a former gunner, speaks with feeling, since Sir Martin Farndale has clearly already dipped his hand into my hon. Friend's pocket. He is quite right to say that many hundreds of thousands of former gunners, old comrades and present gunners, have generously donated money to the plan for the Royal 1045 Artillery Heritage museum. I wholly agree that it could be the most wonderful museum. Anyone who has been there and seen the fantastic collection of guns at Woolwich, which the hon. Member for Woolwich (Mr. Austin-Walker) is so keen to see more formalised, will realise that it could be an astonishingly exciting project. There is a great deal more to do and much more money required, but I wholly endorse my hon. Friend's point.