A CAMPAIGN to reinvent Christchurch Museum of Electricity has received a welcome boost of support.

Mission Ignition, the community initiative to revive Christchurch’s Museum of Electricity as a Science and Engineering Discovery Centre, has generated support from Christchurch MP Chris Chope.

In a letter to Mr Phillips-Davies, Chief Executive of SSE Plc, the owners of the museum, Mr Chope invited the company boss to come to Christchurch and see the museum and discuss the vision for the facility with local people.

He said: “It would be fantastic if you were willing to come to Christchurch to see the museum and to discuss with local people how their vision, and SSE’s commitment to education, can be brought together and realised.”

The project proposes to combine artefacts from the former museum together with modern interactive and hands-on exhibits.

“Our vision is to excite young people in science and engineering by telling the story of electricity, from generation through to application in the 21st century,” said Dr Jan Peters, a science, technology, engineering and maths ambassador for Dorset and Wiltshire.

“It could be that Mission Ignition excites the potential scientists and engineers that will help solve the energy needs of future generations.”

In a letter to the company, local businessman Adrian Dwyer has asked the chairman, Lord Smith of Kelvin, to fully consider the proposal.

“Lord Smith was president of the British Association of Friends of Museums and vice chairman of the Museums and Galleries Commission, so we are lucky that he, as well as anyone, will appreciate the huge benefit to the SSE brand, and to the community, for the cost of the profit that SSE make in just one hour.

“As Chris Chope pointed out, this is a fantastic opportunity for SSE, and we are hopeful of meeting SSE’s chief executive to discuss Mission Ignition before the September 26.”

A survey is available at mission-ignition.com to gauge public support for the facility.