North Somerset Museum Saved from Closure

THE FUTURE of North Somerset Museum has been safeguarded after Weston-super-Mare Town Council stepped in.

North Somerset Council had been considering its closure in a bid to save costs but the town council asked for any decisions on the matter to be deferred.

This was to allow Weston Town councillors time to look into the feasibility of taking on the Burlington Street museum for future generations to enjoy.

Last night Weston Town councillors met to vote on a proposal to take on the freehold of the museum and establish a trust to keep it open.

This was on the basis of North Somerset Council contributing £100,000 toward building repair costs and it also bearing the cost of new boilers and any asbestos removal.

The collections would be transferred to Taunton and be managed jointly by Somerset County Council, North Somerset Council and the Town Council.

However, the Ttown council made it clear it would retain control and first call on the collection of 72,000 artefacts until the trust is up and running, which is expected to take a year.

At the meeting councillor Clive Webb said by taking on the facility, the cost to the tax payer per year would be an extra £4.

Ken Lacey, chairman of the Senior Citizens Forum and Dr Howard Smith, of the Save Our Museum Group, both expressed a wish for the facility to remain open.

Mr Smith said: “We do feel the museum is a unique and precious and once lost it can never be recovered.

“I don’t think this is a gamble we can take.”

After a two hour discussion 15 councillors voted in favour of the scheme and nine were against.

It means the town council will have to find £40,000 for emergency repairs to be carried out so the building is fit for purpose and there will be periods of closure to allow this.

Councillor Dawn Parry insisted the collection “needed to be displayed or be lost” and said by taking on the museum “it would preserve our history.”

She said: “I believe we should put ourselves on the map by embracing the museum.”

Councillor Keith Morris agreed and said that the Town Council “owed it to the citizens of Weston to preserve their history”.

Mr Webb also offered his full support saying the museum “was part of the heart of the town.

He said: “If you go and close these things its part of the town’s soul gone.”

Weston town council leader Pauline Priestman told councillors a “reality check” was needed and asked them to think “not with their hearts but make judgements with their heads.”