EXPLOSION ! Hampshire's outstanding exhibition of our brave naval history has negotiated a rescue bid. For want of just £100,000 each year a Lib-Dem vote of no confidence almost forced closure on the future development of Priddy's Hard.  With Steve Williams Labour's Action Team leader in Hardway I've been campaigning for a public-private solution to save the development.  Final details are now under negotiation, but a scheme similar to the ambitious Verve project is likely to be announced soon.

A stay of execution was been secured until April while the rumoured Portsmouth rescue bid was being negotiated. So 'get on down' to Explosion for the best family week-end day out, and help us to secure its survival.

Steve Williams is Labour's County Council candidate for Hardway, Forton and Elson. Steve's a keen supporter of EXPLOSION ! He says "This is a great exhibition of Hampshire's brave naval history. After seven years of distinction the museum is a corner-stone for further development in Priddy's Hard".

Yet the LibDem budget is under pressure to close the doors if a rescue bid cannot be found soon. For want of just £100,000 each year it might be that a vote of no confidence will be forced on the future development of Priddy's Hard.

We're lobbying that the County Council should share our enthusiasm for this unique project. To allow such an amazing and exciting collection of guns, missiles, torpedoes, conventional and nuclear munitions to be lost is really tragic.

Explosion !, The Museum of Naval Firepower is an award winning, hands on, interactive museum telling the story of naval warfare from the days of gunpowder to modern missiles. The museum includes a nationally significant collection of guns and naval ordnance, an original 18th century gunpowder vault and social history of the people who supplied the Navy from the days of Trafalgar to the Gulf War.

Local residents can visit this great site free, everyone can visit the website now: www.explosion.org.uk

• TSE's SMALL VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR - 2005

• SMALL VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR - SILVER 2003

• SPECIALIST MUSEUM OF THE YEAR 2002

• HAMPSHIRE FAMILY ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR 2002

• "Undeniably Gripping" THE TIMES

• "This splendid new museum... looks far beyond the obvious to make a fascinating outing" The Good Britain Guide 2002