Town councillors have agreed to start conversations about whether Bournemouth could host the National Motor Museum when its lease at Beaulieu ends, with partners asked to test local support. Bournemouth could explore hosting the National Motor Museum after town councillors backed opening talks. The proposal, from Councillor Mark Anderson, was approved by Bournemouth Town Council on September 24 and suggests the town could be considered when the museum’s lease at its current Beaulieu site expires. The council will now speak with BCP Council, tourism bodies, businesses and landowners to test
Bournemouth could explore hosting the National Motor Museum after town councillors backed opening talks.
The proposal, from Councillor Mark Anderson, was approved by Bournemouth Town Council on September 24 and suggests the town could be considered when the museum’s lease at its current Beaulieu site expires.
The council will now speak with BCP Council, tourism bodies, businesses and landowners to test support, although the idea does not commit it to major spending or any location at this stage.
Councillor Anderson said it was a “rare opportunity” and argued Bournemouth needs more indoor attractions that can bring visitors through the year, including during autumn and winter as well as summer.
He said a museum could bring “exciting educational opportunities” by working with schools, colleges and the university in engineering, technology, design, apprenticeships and Britain’s motoring heritage, while the collection includes early motorised carriages, speed record breakers and cars from television and cinema.
He said the first step is to make sure Bournemouth is “part of the conversation” and to see what the town could offer if the museum looks beyond Beaulieu in future.
