Hydro D-Day put back to end of year (From Somerset County Gazette)

Hydro D-Day put back to end of year

3:56pm Wednesday 7th February 2007 in News By Phil Hill

UNCERTAINTY over the Taunton-based UK Hydrographic Office's future will continue until late 2007, the County Gazette has discovered.

The Government originally promised to reveal by last month whether the service would remain at Admiralty Way or relocate to Norton Fitzwarren or Exeter.

Now the 1,000 staff will hear the decision has been postponed until after a review into the office's capability to develop and sell digital rather than paper charts.

MoD Minister Derek Twigg, writing to Taunton MP Jeremy Browne, said: "The UKHO management team and I agree it would not be sensible to reach final conclusions on the UKHO's site strategy until the study is complete and there is clarity about the size and nature of the future accommodation requirements.

"Further consideration of site strategy will be an integral part of the review, including whether the potential opportunity to relocate to the MetOffice's site in Exeter might offer best value for money.

"However, work on developing and assessing the various options will continue and if, on the basis of an objective assessment of best value for money, any of the options can be excluded at an early stage, then we will do so."

“I’d prefer a straightforward announcement that the Hydrographic Office will remain in Taunton and be modernised to meet the challenges of the future.”

Jeremy Browne MP

The digital review will be led by an MoD team supported by the UKHO and should conclude "towards the end of 2007".

Mr Browne said he was frustrated by the delay, which was "unsettling" and "inconvenient" at a time of major development in Taunton.

He added: "I do understand the need to review the digital part of the business - the UKHO is the overwhelming market leader in the production of paper charts, but it is far less dominant in the digital area.

"That's an uncomfortable position when the nature of navigation is changing and the Hydrographic Office must avoid being left behind.

"But I'm not convinced that the decision on the future location of the UKHO needs to wait for the completion of the review on digital production.

"I'd prefer a straightforward announcement that the Hydrographic Office will remain in Taunton and be modernised to meet the challenges of the future."

A UKHO spokesman said: "The site relocation strategy is still under review. "We have never quoted the timetable Jeremy Browne is using. "I am unaware of any digital review and we're expecting an announcement as soon as the Minister is in a position to make an informed decision."