The following newspaper article appeared in the Isle of Man Examiner, 29th February 2000.

The society behind plans to open a military museum at Ronaldsway airport says it's frustrated at being forced to put this summer's opening on hold.

Earlier this month, the Manx Aviation Preservation Society was granted planning permission to convert a disused bungalow on the airfield into a museum charting the Island's aviation and military history.

It has also secured a lease with the owner, the Department of Transport, and was hoping to have the extensive work needed already under way with a view to opening in July.

But chairman Steve Poole say security concerns at Ronaldsway mean MAPS members aren't allowed access the site until a fence is erected around it.

Mr. Poole says this was agreed to during negotiations for the lease, but claims that DoT work which has since started on the site means a fence can't be erected until it has finished.

He explained; 'They did not inform us that they were going to get into major work in the area that would stop us moving in.'

Mr. Poole says the society doesn't have a problem if the work takes several months, and understands the security issues surrounding the public.

However, Mr. Poole feels there is no flexibility. He says society members could be issued with identification when they needed to go onto the site, which could also apply to any outside workers, such as electricians, the society needs to bring in.

Plans for the museum have taken six years to come to fruition. The response from the public to the plans, which were unveiled in the Examiner in November, has been good with several sponsors coming forward to offer their services.

Mr. Poole said: 'It has taken so long to get this far. It is quite frustrating to have got the planning approval and the lease and now have to wait longer.'

Airport operations manager Ian Moffett said the fence was needed because the building backs on to the airfield and there is nothing at present to stop people from straying onto it.

He explained that with planning permission only being granted a few weeks ago, he was rushing ahead to get a fence in place as quickly as possible.

Mr. Moffett said: 'I do not expect it to take months. But this is not a job we can do overnight. We are working as best as we can to get this done.

'I am looking to put a temporary fence up as soon as possible. I'm as keen as anyone to get them into the museum.'

By kind permission of Isle of Man Newspapers Limited.

Let me reiterate, as mentioned on the previous page, we haven't been able to ascertain yet if the delay in getting the keys has put back our intended opening date.