Petition move in battle to save Shropshire museum services

The idea was one of the calls made at a public meeting over proposed cuts to museum services in Ludlow, as a petition was raised to fight the changes.

Sir Neil Cossons, former chairman of English Heritage and the original director Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, endorsed the idea put forward by Much Wenlock historian Vivien Bellamy.

She said plans to axe the jobs of the three expert staff who run Ludlow Museum Resource Centre reflected a wider problem in the county as a whole.

Mrs Bellamy, a former museum worker herself, said: "I'd like to open the debate to all museums in Shropshire, because we're all under threat."

She said museums should form a consortium to help fight cuts across the board.

Sir Neil agreed, saying such a consortium should confront Shropshire Council and demand a strategy for museums in the county for next five to 10 years – or draw up a for them as there was more expertise, drive and ability in the room than in the whole of Shropshire Council.

Mike Beazley of the Ludlow Under Pressure group said they could already comment on Shropshire Council's website on budget cuts for the coming year, which Ludlow Museum Resource Centre came under.

Meanwhile Lottie James, chairman of Friends of Ludlow Museum, urged those assembled, most of whom signed a petition against the cuts on the way in, to take paper copies and get others to sign.

An electronic version had also been submitted to sign on Shropshire Council's website, under 'ePetition'. If more than 1,000 signatures were received, it would have to be debated by full council, she said.

Speaking before the meeting, Tina Woodward, Shropshire Council's deputy cabinet member for visitor economy, said: "Shropshire Council is having to redesign all of its services, including the museums service, to produce savings in line with national spending cuts.

"We fully recognise the value and importance of our museums' collections, and we will continue to provide collections care and public access at Ludlow Museum and Resource Centre.

"Under the proposed plan there will be an appropriately qualified but reduced curatorial provision on site, and they will continue to care for the collections and also support the work of the volunteers and friends.

"Staff from within Shropshire Council's museums service will be working out of Ludlow on a regular basis and education and learning programmes will continue on site.

"Shropshire museums' curatorial staff will continue to provide ongoing support to Ludlow Town Council when the operation of Ludlow Museum transfers to it as part of its relocation to the refurbished Buttercross.

"As part of this on-going consultation we welcome any realistic new ways of working with partners or stakeholders groups, that will help better inform the decision making process with regard to our available options."