For some years we have been concerned about the future of this very popular collection of preserved buses and a tram which has been under threat. The City Council's Property Services department have been keen to move them as their building is in bad repair and its site in Broad Street, Old Portsmouth, is very valuable for housing.

In March 2001 a meeting of the City Council decided that they should be allowed to stay where they are for the time being; but now they are under threat again because the developer of the adjoining site - what was Lucas's chandlers and sailmakers - has made a tempting offer for the bus site. Apparently the state of the garage is so bad that it is not a realistic option to plan to keep the buses there for any more than a very few years.

The present location is ideal; the buses provide a focus of interest for the many people who just like to stroll around the Camber area but who would be unlikely to make a special journey to see the buses or ride in them were a new site to be found for them. Our solution is for the Council to build a new shed for them out of the profit they will make by selling the bus site for development; and site it alongside the two that remain of the six sheds that formerly stood on the Town Quay, East Street, on the Camber.

This solution was put to the Executive of the Council by Roger James on 23 January with the agreement of Philip Marfleet, chairman of the CPPD Trust, with one alteration namely that the proposed site would be the boat trailer park on East Street, the trailers being moved further west on to the underused car park. The scheme was accepted in principle. A firm proposal is to be brought to the Executive's next meeting.

RJ