MORWELLHAM Quay has made redundant two members of staff owing to planned winter repairs at its historic mine. The museum and visitor centre has made two permanent staff members redundant and released two seasonal helpers early. Although most of the restored Victorian port will remain open all year round, the George and Charlotte Copper Mine will be closed for six weeks during January and February for maintenance. Admission to Morwellham is now free and will remain free when the site re-opens fully next Spring. Morwellham director Peter Jennings said: ?There?s a lot of work happening in the winter. The mine?s closing for maintenance and repair and we?ve gone into a reduced staff mode. ?Some seasonal staff will be let go early and two permanent staff have been made redundant. Morwellham Quay is not in any danger of closing.? He confirmed that two of the ten full-time staff and two seasonal workers had been made redundant. He added that four seasonal workers would remain to assist school parties until the end of their contracts on October 28. The Quay employs up to 30 additional staff in season, which runs from Easter until the end of October. During the winter, major restoration works are due to take place on the railway track bed which connected the quay to mines further afield in the Tamar Valley. The work is part of a £1-million development programme by the Tamar Valley Mining Heritage Project. The quays are to be re-surfaced, the Garlandstone, moored at the quay, will be refurbished, the overhead railway repaired and much of the industrial archaeology will be re-interpreted. Mr Jennings said: ?Morwellham Quay is an important part of the Tamar Valley community and it contains a wealth of information on the valley?s industrial heritage and the people who lived and worked there.? The attraction has received funding of £250,000 from West Devon Borough Council over the past year.
