Queen asks for extra £1M to repair decrepit palaces
Pieces falling off historic buildings
The Queen is seeking an extra £1 million of
(1) 1st-class stamps combined essential work in charge in good repair in maintenance projects in pursuit in value increased costs lack of attention security bill taxpayers' money the size of a shoebox to save her crumbling palaces.
Matters came to a head this year when a lump of stone
(2) 1st-class stamps combined essential work in charge in good repair in maintenance projects in pursuit in value increased costs lack of attention security bill taxpayers' money the size of a shoebox fell from a Buckingham Palace façade and narrowly missed the Princess Royal’s parked car. Another piece fell off as guests arrived for a Palace reception for the scientific community.
At Windsor Castle an area of lead roof the size of the Wimbledon Centre Court and Court No.1
(3) 1st-class stamps combined essential work in charge in good repair in maintenance projects in pursuit in value increased costs lack of attention security bill taxpayers' money the size of a shoebox is in pressing need of renewal; at Buckingham Palace two thirds of the roof is at least 120 years old, and cannot go on indefinitely with make-do patching.
Sir Alan Reid, the accountant
(4) 1st-class stamps combined essential work in charge in good repair in maintenance projects in pursuit in value increased costs lack of attention security bill taxpayers' money the size of a shoebox of the Queen’s money, said the annual government grant for the maintenance of the royal palaces had been frozen at £15 million in 1991 and had since declined
(5) 1st-class stamps combined essential work in charge in good repair in maintenance projects in pursuit in value increased costs lack of attention security bill taxpayers' money the size of a shoebox by more than two thirds in real terms.
“We are seriously behind schedule
(6) 1st-class stamps combined essential work in charge in good repair in maintenance projects in pursuit in value increased costs lack of attention security bill taxpayers' money the size of a shoebox , and if our historic buildings are to remain safe it is essential that the grant is increased by £1 million a year,” Sir Alan said.
Royal officials fear that unless they can keep up a rolling programme of repairs and replacement,
(7) 1st-class stamps combined essential work in charge in good repair in maintenance projects in pursuit in value increased costs lack of attention security bill taxpayers' money the size of a shoebox will eventually become hideously expensive. They also fear that the enormous amount of construction work involved in building London’s Olympic facilities will lead to hugely
(8) 1st-class stamps combined essential work in charge in good repair in maintenance projects in pursuit in value increased costs lack of attention security bill taxpayers' money the size of a shoebox for other customers seeking skilled tradesmen.
A Palace property manager, standing in the Quadrangle and gesturing at the crumbling east façade and the three other sides in dire need of cleaning, said: “There are bound to be a lot of receptions here during the Olympics; it would be nice if visitors from around the world found such a famous building
(9) 1st-class stamps combined essential work in charge in good repair in maintenance projects in pursuit in value increased costs lack of attention security bill taxpayers' money the size of a shoebox .”
Overall, this year the monarchy cost the taxpayer £37.3 million, marginally less than last year. Sir Alan described it as less than the cost of two
(10) 1st-class stamps combined essential work in charge in good repair in maintenance projects in pursuit in value increased costs lack of attention security bill taxpayers' money the size of a shoebox for every man, woman and child in the country.
The figure infuriates anti-monarchists, who point out that it ignores the huge
(11) 1st-class stamps combined essential work in charge in good repair in maintenance projects in pursuit in value increased costs lack of attention security bill taxpayers' money the size of a shoebox , estimated to be at least £100 million a year but never disclosed in official figures.
Phrases not used:
1st-class stamps combined essential work in charge in good repair in maintenance projects in pursuit in value increased costs lack of attention security bill taxpayers' money the size of a shoebox -
1st-class stamps combined essential work in charge in good repair in maintenance projects in pursuit in value increased costs lack of attention security bill taxpayers' money the size of a shoebox