MEMO Portland is “success story waiting to happen,” says South Dorset MP
MP Lloyd Hatton is confident funding for the 'world class visitor attraction' will be coming in the 'next few weeks', with spades in the ground 'within the next year'
The MP for South Dorset says he’s “very close” to getting the multimillion-pound investment needed to a “world class visitor attraction” on Portland.
MEMO Portland, which was first discussed 20 years ago, will be a celebration of the Jurassic Coast and a hub for environmental research and biodiversity awareness situated in a disused quarry.
Just like the Eden Project down in Cornwall, these proposals are a success story waiting to happen.
For the last 18 months, MP Lloyd Hatton has been pushing for investment from the government.
He’s met with five Ministers across three departments to pitch the idea, spoken in Parliament many times and lobbied local MPs to endorse the MEMO Portland proposals
He told us: “The funding I'm hoping to see secured in the next few weeks and then we can look towards getting spades in the ground within the next year or so.
“It will then take a few years to put this together, but because we're talking about putting MEMO Portland underground, in a disused quarry, it can actually be put together remarkably quickly.
“This is about Utilising A disused space and not building a completely new structure from scratch.”
Smack bang in the middle of the Jurassic Coast, the local MP says there’s “no better place” for a project of this magnitude.
“Portland is without a doubt the best place to have a visitor attraction teaching people about the environment, nature, biodiversity and about our fantastic Jurassic Coast,” MP Hatton said.
There is a belief that the attraction will help transform the local economy, boost hospitality businesses and create well-paid jobs for local people too.
“If we get this up and running it will be a huge boost to local hospitality businesses,” MP Hatton added. “It will mean that tourists will start coming to our part of the world all year round, while also creating well paid jobs and apprenticeships for local people.
“It is a success story waiting to happen and I am determined to get this project across the line so I will keep pushing to finally deliver MEMO Portland.”