Plans are progressing to develop a new British Dinosaur Museum in Sandown as both a major tourist attraction and centre of palaeontological research for Great Britain.
This new attraction would bring together a new museum, a dinosaur park and a science research facility to display and preserve the Island’s heritage for future generations.
Dr Jeremy Lockwood, chair of the Dinosaur Isle Group, an association of Island residents, said:
“The Isle of Wight is Europe’s premier dinosaur hotspot, with amazing new discoveries regularly being found under our feet. We literally walk on dinosaurs.
"We can make our Cretaceous Coast as famous as the Jurassic Coast, protecting the Island’s heritage, providing education and ensuring that Sandown becomes a major national tourist destination. We are living in a golden age of dinosaurs, and this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
"It will enhance Sandown’s regeneration plans and contribute to the City of Culture bid; vital to our local economy as we open our doors after such a difficult year.”
Plans involve opening the British Dinosaur Museum on the Isle of Wight, run on a not-for-profit basis by a Charitable Trust, alongside a Dinosaur Park created by consortium partners, Dinosaurier-Park International, who will set up a UK based company to run it. Together, they will
secure the long-term financial viability of the island’s internationally important fossil collection in a new, fully accredited museum with significantly extended science and research activities.
The accompanying Dinosaur Park, with its blend of education and entertainment, will offer a day out for families, with the combination making the new British Dinosaur Museum an international destination and a national landmark.
Dinosaurier-Park International is a well-established company, with extensive experience in developing, building, and operating Dinosaur Parks and Dinosaur Museums at an international level. For instance, after opening the Parque dos Dinossauros da Lourinha, the town of Lourinha in Portugal became known as a capital of dinosaurs and is a destination for families and tourists from across Europe.
After years without investment and a failure to market the attraction to visitors, there are fears that Dinosaur Isle in its current form is no longer financially viable and may be forced to close its doors.
The local consortium said it hopes that within the next few months it will receive the green light from the Isle of Wight Council to make Sandown and its Cretaceous Coast the dinosaur capital of Britain. The team said it intends to work with the local community to establish the British Dinosaur Museum as an international landmark and ensure its contribution to the regeneration of the Bay area.
Jeremy added:
“Our detailed plans include building a new larger museum, Dinosaur Park, education and research facility, whilst remaining sensitive to the ecology of the surrounding land and enhancing existing heritage, such as the PLUTO building.
"This is something that will have a hugely positive impact on the regeneration of the Sandown Bay area, and help to boost local businesses, especially the hospitality industry. It’s a tremendous opportunity for the Isle of Wight to put itself on the global stage.”
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