Lawrence Fenelon, Chair, Friends of Rutland County Museum and Oakham Castle writes about the petition to save the Sea Dragon for Rutland

Rutland People have overwhelmingly supported the Friends of the Museum's petition to save the Sea Dragon for Rutland.

The petition says: We urge Rutland County Council to use its existing council funds plus any grants or donations to acquire the ichthyosaur fossil ('the Sea Dragon') found in Rutland Water by 30 September 2026. We also urge the council to make sure that the fossil can then be displayed at the Rutland County Museum. We further request that this petition be debated at a meeting of the full council.

The petition with over 2,000 signatories was handed in on 19 June and will be debated by the full council on 9 July.

After 30 September any change to RCC's capital expenditure needs governmental approval because of Local Government Reorganisation. A decision on the Sea Dragon is urgent.

Funding for conservation was agreed using part of the Levelling Up Fund. However this money has now been transferred to another project so that there is none left.

The council's decision not to acquire the Sea Dragon until all the money for conservation is in place is therefore critical. Bingo, they say, as there isn't any money for conservation that means RCC can't acquire the fossil.

RCC needs to put in some money, perhaps aided by donations from the Friends to allow the fossil to be displayed in Oakham.

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At March last year RCC's accounts showed over £39m of usable capital reserve. Why can't a small bit of it be used to get the Sea Dragon back in Rutland?

If it is not spent by March 2028 it will go to the new combined authority and be lost to Rutland.

Our council is in danger of missing a once in a lifetime opportunity to bring a major attraction to Oakham.

The Friends hope they will listen to what the people clearly want, and act accordingly.