Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage spoke up in the Houses of Commons today calling for better access for local people to Fort Brockhurst. In a debate on the future of English Heritage the Gosport MP argued it was crucial that local people are able to engage in their regional history.
Speaking in Westminster Hall, Caroline said "Our unique heritage is not something to be kept in a dusty vault under lock and key; it should a living thing that local community groups and individuals feel able to engage with.
Giving local groups the ability to participate in their own heritage is crucial in protecting our connection with the past. But more than that – it offers a real opportunity to involve local people in preserving historic sites for the future."
The remarks followed the decision by local community group "The Gosport Shed" to relocate from Fort Brockhurst to Priddy's Hard. Fort Brockhurst is only open to the general public for 6 days of the year – on the second Saturday of the month during the summer, with the historic site being closed to the public for 6 months across the winter.
