Labour must listen to the public on Museum closures (Derby City Liberal Democrats)

Derby City Liberal Democrats <info@derbycitylibdems.org.uk>

Labour must listen to the public on Museum closures

February 16, 2006 9:03 PM

Derby Liberal Democrats will be using the Council budget meeting on March the 1st to call on Labour to listen to the public over the future of the city's Museums. The Labour Council have planned to close Pickford's House Museum to the general public and to close other Museums on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

The Liberal Democrats believe that the scale of public opposition should be enough to convince Labour to do a uturn on the issue. Leader of the Liberal Democrats on the city council Cllr Hilary Jones said, "At the budget meeting on March 1st I will be calling on the Labour Council to drop its plans to restrict access to our Museums. However there is still the opportunity for Labour to do a uturn on this issue before the budget meeting. One Labour Cabinet Member has already circulated a survey in his area asking people if they support Labour's plans to close Pickford's House Museum.

The result of the survey should be obvious as thousands of people have already signed a petition to keep Pickford's.Museum open. Demonstrating how strongly the people of Derby oppose the Labour run Council's plans."

Lib Dem Cllr Joan Travis said "There is so much opposition to Labour's plans that they must change their minds. The number of people visiting Pickford's House Museum went up last year. The English Tourist Board described it as "A little gem". It is madness for the Labour council to consider closing to the general public such a successful piece of Derby's Heritage. The Labour council are spending a £100,000 of Council Tax payers money to promote Derby. Much of that money will go down the drain if they are closing our Museums. Why should people visit Derby if the council are closing its heritage to visitors?"