Browne leads delegation bidding to save Hydro

11:05am Tuesday 17th April 2007

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LOCAL MP Jeremy Browne is leading a cross-party delegation to the Ministry of Defence on Thursday morning in a bid to keep the UK Hydrographic Office in Taunton.

They will argue for either rebuilding the sea chart maker on its current Admiralty Way site or relocating in the town.

At the 45-minute meeting they will ask Defence Minster Derek Twigg to drop a third option of transferring to offices beside the MetOffice in Exeter.

A final decision is expected once the MoD completes a review of the service later this the year.

Mr Browne has already met Mr Twigg and his predecessor, as well as holding talks with UKHO bosses and staff and initiating a Commons debate.

Also at Thursday morning's meeting are Somerset County Council leader Cathy Bakewell, Taunton Deane Council leader John Williams and chief executive Penny James, and Kay Homer, Director of Operations for the South West Regional Development Agency.

For the latest on the UKHO story see this Thursday's Somerset County Gazette.