This month, I stressed the importance of preserving our Newport medieval ship, to the Minister, that was discovered in the banks of the River Usk in June 2002, and is the most substantial late-medieval vessel excavated and recovered in Britain.
The internationally important fifteenth-century ship would expect to attract an estimated 150,000 visitors to view the ship once it is displayed properly, boosting the south Wales and Newport economy by about £7 million per year.
The Friends of the Newport Ship campaign volunteers are asking for the Welsh Government and Newport council to commit and finally deliver a more central, permanent home for the ship—as it was first proposed at the bottom of Newport Theatre.
Concerningly, only £10,000 in capital funding has been earmarked for the project. I asked the minister to
"commit to working with Newport council to ensure that we make the most of this unique finding by ensuring that a central location is found as soon as possible, and that enough moneys will be ring-fenced to ensure that both Newport, my region of south-east Wales, and Wales, can maximise the financial and historical benefits of having such a historical artefact in Newport"
I recently visited the current site, which is run brilliantly by volunteers, including our own Newport Conservative Charles Ferris. The site has now been a temporary home for twenty years so it is vital that the Minister commits to supporting this project.