A CAMPAIGN has been launched to save a piece of Longbridge history from being moved out of the area.
A proposal has been put forward to relocate Lord Austin’s Office, which is currently at MG UK in Lowhill Lane, to Gaydon.
Gemma Cartwright, the organiser of Pride of Longbidge (POL), is now calling on MG UK to enable the group to take responsibility and manage the office to ensure this important piece of history stays where it is.
She said: “Lord Austin’s Office is a beacon of our local history and moving it does not make sense – especially when MG UK are aware of the great heritage events POL does throughout the year.
“Lord Austin’s Office needs to stay in Longbridge for all to enjoy and we want the local community and businesses to work together to ensure that’s what happens.”
Prior to the pandemic, the office was popular with visitors, including school pupils, who would learn about Longbridge’s rich car-making history.
Gemma added: “Lord Austin’s Work from Longbridge this is where he chose his empire to be it would be pointless to move this to Gaydon and wrong for our local heritage.
“This will be enjoyed by locals and people from all over.”
Lord Austin founded the Austin Motor Company which led to decades of car production of in the city with many different models.
Motor manufacturing later continued under the name MG Rover and the factory also supported efforts in both the First World War and Second World War, with the latter seeing the plant specialising in producing aircraft and aircraft parts.
A petition has been launched in a bid to keep the office in Longbridge.
Click here to view the petition and sign it.
