A FORMER Taunton businessman is hatching plans to save the UK Hydrographic Office.

Andrew Purdy, 44, says he has requested a meeting with the Government minister who is due to decide the fate of the UKHO in the New Year with a view to purchasing it, but Taunton MP Jer-emy Browne has said the privatisation is not realistic.

The property developer, now living in Suffolk, says with support from several financial backers in London he would have no problem raising £100-200million to buy the site.

His plans include building a new office elsewhere in Taunton where he would run the business, allowing the 1,000 jobs currently at risk to be retained.

He said: "I'm hoping to meet Minister Derek Twigg as soon as possible. The idea will be to purchase it from them and build a new establishment in Taunton."

Mr Purdy grew up in Taunton and his mother was UKHO head telephonist for 30 years.

"The office can't be re-developed where it is, so I'd be looking to build on a new site and I have one in mind at Ruishton."

"If I'm successful I'd also want to take the business over and the workforce would keep their jobs.

"Then employees and the public would be given the opp-ortunity to purchase shares in the company. "

A UKHO spokesman said: "The UK Hydrographic Office is a Government department and part of the Ministry of Defence.

"However well intentioned, pri-vate individuals aren't in a position to purchase parts of the Ministry of Defence.

"The future trading status of the department is a matter for the Government to decide, as is the decision on the best location for the department to continue its vital work, protecting the safety of millions of lives at sea."

The Minister will review the UKHO site development options and a decision on the future location of the department is expected in the spring of 2007.

The County Gazette and Mr Browne have been fighting to keep the UKHO in Taunton - a County Gazette petition signed by hundreds of residents has already been presented to Parliament.

n ANDREW Purdy says he has also been looking at other development opportunities in Taun-ton, including contributing to leisure, retail and affordable housing as part of the developments at Firepool.

He said he intends to write to the Deane Council with a proposal to buy its council house stock, also with cash backers.

A council spokesman said: "Council housing can't be sold on the open market to the highest bidder.

"Ownership of council homes can only change hands in two ways: to individual tenants exercising their right to buy; or through transfer to a not-for-profit housing association registered with and regulated by the Housing Corporation."

"Even the, a transfer can only go ahead if the majority of tenants taking part in a confidential ballot agree and the Secretary of State grants approval.

"Taunton Deane Council is proposing the transfer of its pro-perties to Deane Housing as it believes this is the best available way to secure the long-term future of the local housing service and the continued supply of good quality affordable housing that meets local needs.

"However, it's our tenants who will make the final decision."