Bursledon Windmill at risk as Eastleigh Borough Council pulls funding

Hampshire Cultural Trust, which manages Bursledon Windmill, said that its future as a visitor attraction is 'now under serious consideration' after Eastleigh Borough Council - a key funder - announced in February it intended to withdraw funding by the summer.

Paul Sapwell, chief executive at Hampshire Cultural Trust, said that since this news they had been thinking of ways to 'keep the mill operational for our visitors', but added: "It is a huge challenge for us to fill the gap that has been created by the funding withdrawal.

"Unfortunately, revenue from admissions, the existing shop and small café is simply not sufficient to support operations."

READ MORE: Campaign launched to fund Bursledon Windmill refurbishment

Paul explained that another factor causing issues for the Grade II*-listed building's future is the project to replace the mill's sails, which has been underway for months.

However, while the new sails have been made, it has not yet been possible to install them because of health and safety issues and increased costs.

Paul explained: “The mill is a phenomenally complex building to manage, with very specific needs.

"To fulfil our health and safety obligations – not just for our staff, volunteers and visitors, but also for the local community – when it is fully working, the mill has to be turned in line with the direction of the wind; to do this, we need specialist, highly skilled staff on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We cannot manage this staffing level without more funding and as a result cannot install the new sails."

He added: "While we are talking to all parties involved and looking at every option that we can, we do have to face the very real possibility that we may not be able to keep the mill operational and open to the public, although we will do what we can to avoid this possibility.”

Bursledon Windmill is owned by the Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust (HBPT) and has been run in a partnership between Hampshire County Council, which leases the mill from the HBPT, Eastleigh Borough Council, which part funds the day-to-day operational costs, and Hampshire Cultural Trust, which manages and staffs the building.

Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Rob Humby, said that they could not guarantee their funding 'indefinitely' beyond March 2025, 'particularly in light of the withdrawal of funding from other partners'.

He added: "As we make clear in our budget consultation, the County Council has a £132 million budget shortfall to fill if we are to deliver a balanced budget by 2025.

With much less money available we are going to have to make some very difficult decisions about future spending as finding ways to make savings is becoming ever more difficult in the face of rising costs and higher demands for services."

Cllr Humby said the council would continue to work with both the Cultural Trust and Hampshire Buildings Preservation Trust 'to agree the best solution for the future of the windmill within the resources available'.

Charlie Fraser-Fleming, chairman of HBPT, said 'they were determined to ensure the windmill has a long-term future'.

An Eastleigh Borough Council spokesperson said they had provided two extra years of funding beyond what was initially agreed and added: "The council will still be keen to provide in kind support to the Windmill and Hampshire Cultural Trust can still apply for ad-hoc grants for projects and events.

"The savings will be used by the committee for other projects in the Bursledon, Hamble and Netley communities.”

Bursledon Windmill will be open for selected events and weekends over the summer season until the end of September. More details are available at hampshireculture.org.uk.