City approves $500,000 for Lancaster bomber restoration

Windsor is investing another $500,000 to helprestore the Lancaster bomber.

City council approved the fundingTuesday night, agreeing to invest in the restoration project to the tune of $50,000 a yearover the next decade.

• Windsor's Lancaster bomber could get $50K per year from city

That money will pay for storing the Second World War plane, while volunteers do the restoration work.The city has already spent $350,000to store the aircraft at the Windsor Airportover the last 10 years, according to a city staff report.

That money went to the Canadian Historical Aircraft Association, which is the group restoring the plane.

"We're pleased with council's decision and for the next 10 years we'll continue to work on the Lancaster," said Stephen Richards, treasurer at the Aircraft Association.

Richards and his group were asking council to cough up $100,000 a year, which they say would put the Lancaster on pace for a full restoration in seven years.

In addition to council's investment,Richards saidit will cost an estimated $350,000 to fully repair the Lancaster.

As it stands now, the group willcontinue to raise funds on their own.

The Lancaster was bought in 1964 and displayed at Jackson Park for 40 years before it started to deteriorate and became a threat to the public, according to a city staff report.