I hate to return to well trodden ground, but Sunday Telegraph again covers the governments plundering of Lottery Funds to finance the Olympics. The paper reports on the launch of a bid for funding for the Mary Rose Trust, money desperately needed to preserve the ship and update its dilapidated museum. The grant however, is viewed as doomed to failure. As Michael Hancock MP for Portsmouth South said;

“The Olympics is now taking a disproportionate amount of money, which has left organisations having to fight to save the nations heritage.”

A similar article highlights the Arts Council and Heritage Lottery Fund claim that nearly £300 million will be siphoned from regional good causes. As Don Foster, the Liberal Democrats culture spokesman said

“Smaller bids will loose out because it is harder to axe some of the bigger schemes”

South Tyneside alone has over 40 projects who for the next three years are unlikely to receive any funding at all. How do politicians think these agencies will survive?