The iconic ‘The Princess Anne’ SRN4 hovercraft, which was built in East Cowes in the 1970s, has been saved from the scrapheap The Hovercraft Museum Trust has announced today (Monday).
Currently ‘The Princess Anne’ and sister craft ‘The Princess Margaret’ sit at the Hovercraft Museum at Lee-on-Solent, however earlier this year the future of the two craft was put in doubt as landowners Home & Communities Agency (HCA) pushed ahead with plans to redevelop the area.
Now, thanks to discussions with the HCA and a petition back by over 20,000 people, it has been agreed that the Hovercraft Museum Trust will lease the land for 3 years at a peppercorn rent with the intention of the HCA to hand over the craft completely to the Trust at the end of the period. According to the Trust, the 3 years allows time to fulfil obligations in making the craft safe and of smart appearance.
A Homes and Communities Agency spokesman has today said:
“This is a fantastic agreement which will allow the Hovercraft Museum to preserve a truly iconic machine as the centrepiece of their museum.
“We are committed to regenerating this area to create new homes and jobs, and we also take our responsibility to national heritage seriously. This solution will protect the ‘Princess Anne’, whilst also ensuring that the rest of the site can be developed to provide much-needed jobs and houses.”
During their heyday the 250 tonne craft transported 400 passengers and 55 cars across the channel to France from Dover, but they were decommissioned in 2000.
Sadly, ‘The Princess Margaret’ is in worse condition and is to be scrapped.
In celebration of the news, ‘The Princess Anne’ will be partially open to the public at the 2016 Hovershow on 20th/21st August.
A fundraising page has been set up to assist in the repairs and improvements to the icon of British engineering. Donations can be made at www.gofundme.com/srn4hovercraft.
