Rallying call to save Stamford Museum
STAMFORD Town Council has called for the museum in Broad Street to be saved after it was announced the attraction could close next year.
Lincolnshire County Council, which funds the museum, is having to make cuts of 150,000 in its budget for culture and adult education over the next two years, and has proposed closing Stamford, Grantham and Church Farm, Skegness museums.
At a town council meeting on Tuesday, councillors voted to try to save the museum, a notion that has been seconded throughout the town.
Coun Maureen Riley (Lib Dem) put forward a motion, unanimously accepted by town councillors, saying the town council deplored the proposal and would seek to reverse it.
Coun Bob Sandall (Ind) said: "I am disgusted but not surprised by Lincolnshire County Council. To not have a museum in Stamford would be like having bread without butter.
"I'd like to fight to keep it open. I think it is important that every councillor here backs this."
Five people employed at the museum would lose their jobs if the closure goes ahead in June next year.
Paul Johnson, chairman of the Daniel Lambert dining club, which celebrates the life of the famous Stamford character, said: "Stamford is an ancient town with heritage and history, and the museum has a lot of things on display like the Daniel Lambert display and Blackstones engineering works.
"As a tourist destination, having a town without a museum would be silly."
The museum costs 107,438 a year to run, but received 15,303 visits in 2009/2010 compared with the library's 235,932.
The museum building is leased to Lincolnshire County Council by South Kesteven District Council, which would be given the premises back.
The county council's district manager John Whitaker said: "It's only a proposal at this stage and we are in consultation with the public, the
district council and the staff."
Part of the proposal is that a majority of the items on display would be moved to Stamford Library in High Street.
Mr Whitaker said: "No-one wants to close the museum but if we have to close then there are ways of displaying heritage and it may even improve on what we have already got. We can put a very attractive and effective heritage effort into the library which will enhance people's experience.
"We have asked the library staff and the museum staff to give us their ideas on what we should do.
"We will do all we can to employ museum staff in other departments before any redundancies are made. That is the last option."
At its meeting, the town council discussed the idea of having some of the museum's artefacts in the town hall, but Coun Riley's proposal that the county council should not be given this option received unanimous support.
Stamford MP Nick Boles (Con) supported the library idea.
He said: "While it is obviously sad to lose any community facility, the museum in Stamford receives less than 10 per cent as many visitors as the library.
"I am hopeful that a museum display at the library will in fact be enjoyed by more Stamford residents and visitors than the stand alone museum ever was."
The museum opened in Broad Street 30 years ago and houses some of Stamford's most famous artefacts and archives.
Former curator John Smith, who worked at the museum for 20 years, said: "I would support any move to save the museum.
"People should get in touch with their county councillors and point out the strengths of the museum and what it has brought to the town over the last 30 years."
Residents in Grantham have already started a campaign to save Grantham Museum which is also under threat.
Both museums have been nominated for the People's Choice Award at the Renaissance East Midlands Heritage Awards in July.
The county council is looking for suggestions from the public during its consultation period. Contact its culture and adult education offices on 01522 782040.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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