Under-threat £10 million Shrewsbury Museum 'must be kept open'

Councillor Alan Mosley, leader of Shrewsbury Town Council, has said museums "must be kept open" despite looming cuts to services across the county.

The museum, which opened in April 2014 following a five-year restoration project, faces all of its funding being withdrawn from April next year as part of Shropshire Council cuts.

Councillor Mosley, who represents Castlefields and Ditherington, has said the town council would look to protect any threatened services, including the museum, depending on the financial implications.

He said: "The town council would be willing to enter discussions with Shropshire Council about any of the valuable services which are threatened with service reductions.

"However they will be very hard-nosed negotiations, it will not be a case that Shropshire Council can absolve itself of its responsibility and expect us to pick it up. It has to continue to play its part in financing vital services. We would also talk to many other organisations including nearby parish councils to speak about their willingness to contribute to financing the service."

Councillor Mosley said the town council would also look to see what economies could be made.

The museums in Shrewsbury alone take up about £262,000 of Shropshire Council's "controlled spending" and as of yet there are no plans in place for who might take over Coleham Pumping Station, Shrewsbury Castle and Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery.

Councillor Mosley said the museum, which is the town's former music hall, is of vital importance.

He said: "It is very, very important in terms of its role as a museum but also educational functions and it is also the home of Shrewsbury visitor information centre.

"So it is of massive importance and must be kept open and fully functional and all concerned must find a way of ensuring that is the case."

Shropshire Council's cabinet will today discuss a proposal that will give town, parish councils and community groups five months to sign agreements for services to save them from closure.

If no agreement can be reached the services may be closed from April next year.

Shrewsbury Town Council is already looking at taking on more of the town's services. Councillor Mosley said discussions over the town council moving into Shrewsbury Library and running the service are continuing.

He said: "We have got a meeting tomorrow about it. Obviously we have high expectations that we will be moving forward with plans to relocate in the library building which is an excellent additional use for the listed building.

"It will give us an excellent headquarters in the town centre. It is one of a series of meetings we have had and we are hoping to have detailed discussions about arrangements for the town council to take on responsibility for running the library.

"At the town council our concern is to protect this very valuable service.

"It may be needed to make some adjustments to opening hours and efficiency measures to reduce costs but we expect to be able to maintain this valuable servic."