Wycombe Museum set to be sold off by council (From Bucks Free Press)

How sad.

"... build an extension to the council headquartes."
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That's £150,000 to some architect mate of a councilor then.

"Councillor Trevor Snaith, the leader of Wycombe Liberal Democrats, has called for the cabinet to reconsider the plans. He thinks moving the facility into the old library, opposite the council building, would be a better option."

This would be a good idea, tis building is standing empty, and costing money at the same time, if Wycombe had it as the library, then Wycombe can have it as a museum.

If WDC are that cash strapped, then cut back on the plans for the new sports centre, dont make it quite so elabirate, this is Wycombe's past and history.

Better still, the money WDC are wasting injecting into HS2, with draw from that, that would save some more money.

miccles wrote:
"Councillor Trevor Snaith, the leader of Wycombe Liberal Democrats, has called for the cabinet to reconsider the plans. He thinks moving the facility into the old library, opposite the council building, would be a better option." This would be a good idea, tis building is standing empty, and costing money at the same time, if Wycombe had it as the library, then Wycombe can have it as a museum. If WDC are that cash strapped, then cut back on the plans for the new sports centre, dont make it quite so elabirate, this is Wycombe's past and history. Better still, the money WDC are wasting injecting into HS2, with draw from that, that would save some more money.

What money is WDC putting into HS2?

This cannot be allowed to happen. All the voluntary work and effort a lot of local people over the years have put into that historic building to be tossed aside by two-bit short-sighted inept politicians - who misspend money like water on a 'stadium' survey and other silly ego-tripping ideas.
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This is Wycombe's heritage and history held for all of us in a historic place in the centre of the town. Not to be secreted away in the bowels of the horrible council offices. And for the enjoyment and education of who ?
Not the Wycombe and District and other citizens , I'll bet.
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This is almost worse news than when the dreaded stadium / 'village' plans were announced by the Clarke gang. Plus others who don't live in Wycombe
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What's the matter with these people ? Do they hate everybody except their little pals and their own little patches ? Something fishy going on , yet again ?
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We appear to be 'rule over' by people who don't give a jot about Wycombe and its long and honorable history. Either that or they are just blithering uncaring idiots (or worse)

make clarke pay back all the money she wasted. then there will be plenty to go around

The closure of the museum at its current historic location would mark a dark day for Wycombe.
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The very history of our town in under threat indeed this can not be allowed to happen.
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.

lets hope the council cant get planning for there extension....oh i forgot they can do what they want.

Get rid of 3 or 4 families who sponge off of benefits. This museum is worth 100 times what they are.

dtap wrote:
How sad.

Maybe the council should stop giving housing to non uk immigrants willy nilly.Also stop wasting money on silly projects,example the water display in frogmoor that lasted - what 5 mins.In other words put the funds to better uses like this-Over ''Examples''

Sell off the museum? I suppose this includes the Norman motte and bailey remains!
In 1952 High Wycombe Borough Council built a swimming pool on the remains of a Roman Villa. Now there seems to be no concern about the castle. This is more important than being able to show the Wycombe District artefacts to best effect.

Ivor, building blog!!!

What was this building before it was a museum?

I always thought the building looked a bit 'seasidy', except for the sea in front there is a huge 'gurt' railway line with huge 'gurt' walls that the pharoahs would have been proud of.

Its contents can be presented anywhere.

Maybe centrally somewhere in town is better - near a picnic area.

Not the Old Library though.

Is the Old Library the 'new' Frogmoor?

And Frogmoor isn't a square, it's a triangle.

PS: Is there no space in the new library?

A museum doesn't have to be in an old building...

What about the railway station boulevard?

The museum is one of the few attractive spaces in centre of Wycombe, it's tranquil, pleasant and provides a bit of green space, culture and activities to the residents, a plus that most of them are free.

Who would visit an annex in the Council offices? The old library site must be one of the most depressing places on earth (second only to the Post Office sorting office opposite).

Let's be honest, if it moves there, the only people who will visit it will be chair history obssessives and winos seeking a warm spot. Visitor numbers will dwindle and there will be some pseudo-consultation and in a year or so's time, guess what? it will close...perhaps that's the Council's game-plan all along.

Seems to me the Council are hell-bent on getting rid of any community facility and anything vaguely original and all we'll be left with is a choice between Rich Wycombe and Poor Wycombe, between an indentikit designer shopping mall and sports centre (maybe) for the cash rich and a High Street that alternates between empty shop fronts, Pound shops, betting shops and pawnbrokers.

Wake up Wycombe Council. This is so not the way to rejuvinate the town. Think instead about supporting the staff and volunteers at the museum who have worked so hard to provide additional activities and to make it a nice place.

If the museum is making 30k a year, that's probaby a **** sight more than many of your departments. Build on it. Downsize the council offices that nobody sees and sell of that dusty monstrosity that used to be a library (OK I know it's BCC, but you get my point).

Museums not mothballs.

Somebody should start a petition.

If the museum site were to be sold (and I am against its sale and the move of the museum), would there be planning restrictions as to what the site could be used for? It's one thing if it could be converted for community or health use or even offices (such as a firm of architects) and retain the green space, but if it is being sold as development land (eg for more flats!) then £750,000 seems remarkably cheap for such a large and well-positioned site. I say keep it as a long-term investment.

OK, I am sure there are more adept (or just more active) activists than me, but I've started a petition.

http://www.ipetition
s.com/petition/savew
ycombemuseum/thank-y
ou

Please sign it.

crewcutandnewt wrote:
OK, I am sure there are more adept (or just more active) activists than me, but I've started a petition. http://www.ipetition s.com/petition/savew ycombemuseum/thank-y ou Please sign it.

No thanks.

PS. Generating an income of £30k per yer does not mean making £30k profit.

In other words they want to create a public uproar in order that they then charge an entrance fee as a compromise. I think that would be a good compromise however we must also remember Pickles' diktat that Councils must make their assets pay or get rid. I'm starting to wonder what is Conservative about the Conservative party.

can't the money being spent to build an extension be used to modernise the Library with a lift and cafe. What will happen to the stone horse trough that stands at the entrance of the museum. Also my kids use to spend hours each holiday doing the treasure hunts around the house and grounds. can't see them doing that with this new building.

One by one the good things about my town are being sold off or decimated by this callous hard hearted council,a council that thinks nothing of wasting £500k on a no hope business scheme, but wont spend a penny to preserve an important part of Wycombe's culture.The wealth of a town is about more than money and shopping centres.I despair I really do, shame on you all,

sai-diva wrote:
One by one the good things about my town are being sold off or decimated by this callous hard hearted council,a council that thinks nothing of wasting £500k on a no hope business scheme, but wont spend a penny to preserve an important part of Wycombe's culture.The wealth of a town is about more than money and shopping centres.I despair I really do, shame on you all,

Please do not include the general Wycombe (and District) population in that cry of 'shame on you all' , s-d.
.
It is the gangs of venal local politicians who run things in this area - if not corrupt they are totally self-absorbed and uncaring of the town and all its heritage.
.
But ordinary people are not allowed to get involved unless you join (as a low-life crony) one of their nasty horrible little gangs. It's called 'Gang Culture', I believe and they attack each other and any innocent bystanders who get in their way as well.
.
How did we end up with people like this poisonous mixture of inept money-grubbing ill-educated gangster-associated scoundrels and blithering idiots dictating to us ? Don't blame the innocent public , please. Thank you.

The museum is not being sold off, it's being moved. Sensational and inaccurate headline by the BFP again

Another town asset being sold off, but I'm not sure what benefit selling off is to any prosepective purchaser when my understanding is that it is a listed building on a site identified as a scheduled ancient monument, and surely then precludes development. If those two statements are correct then, come on council lets have some inventive thinking on ways to give us continued community use of and access to the site retaining the museum there. A towns identity is as much about its past as it is its present and future. The rate the council is going it won't be long before we have, largely speaking, no visual remains of our history except for churches

Veritad Veritad wrote:
The museum is not being sold off, it's being moved. Sensational and inaccurate headline by the BFP again

The Museum is being moved and the building from which it is being moved is being sold off, better?

ivor wrote:
The closure of the museum at its current historic location would mark a dark day for Wycombe.
~
The very history of our town in under threat indeed this can not be allowed to happen.
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “BLOGS” link at the top of the page.

No I have not read your blog.

Get a life.

Am I a wise, far-sighted, deep-thinking individual or what?
On 10th August Cllr Katrina Wood, Wycombe District Council’s Cabinet ‘Member for Community’ wrote to the BFP saying she was ‘delighted’ to read a letter from a local person in the BFP expressing pleasure at their enjoyment of Wycombe Museum.
She touched the ‘family, children/schools’ buttons saying the museum was ‘... a great asset for Wycombe families and a fabulous place to visit during the summer holidays’ and continued, ‘We want to maintain and secure the museum’s long term future in the district and so in the coming months, we’ll be sharing our plans to provide a museum service that’s fit for purpose for generations to come’.
I was the first person to comment on this and I said,
This is a bit scary - when Conservatives talk this way it usually means loss-making privatisation followed by the complete loss of whatever is being made 'fit for purpose in the modern world' or 'the 21st century'. We will know they are going to sell it and build on the land if there is a ‘consultation process’.

I repeat - am I a wise, far-sighted, deep-thinking individual or what?

ImpeturbableLawrence wrote:
Am I a wise, far-sighted, deep-thinking individual or what? On 10th August Cllr Katrina Wood, Wycombe District Council’s Cabinet ‘Member for Community’ wrote to the BFP saying she was ‘delighted’ to read a letter from a local person in the BFP expressing pleasure at their enjoyment of Wycombe Museum. She touched the ‘family, children/schools’ buttons saying the museum was ‘... a great asset for Wycombe families and a fabulous place to visit during the summer holidays’ and continued, ‘We want to maintain and secure the museum’s long term future in the district and so in the coming months, we’ll be sharing our plans to provide a museum service that’s fit for purpose for generations to come’. I was the first person to comment on this and I said, This is a bit scary - when Conservatives talk this way it usually means loss-making privatisation followed by the complete loss of whatever is being made 'fit for purpose in the modern world' or 'the 21st century'. We will know they are going to sell it and build on the land if there is a ‘consultation process’. I repeat - am I a wise, far-sighted, deep-thinking individual or what?

What?

Procopius - why - or didn't you understand my question - is that why you left the question mark?

Yet another facilty resource being disposed of.

Given that the museum has far more art and artifacts in store than on display both in the current buidings on the site and in off-site storage in Marlow and Wycombe I cannot see how any small extension on the council offices will accomodate these.

Visitors to the new proposed site will drop to an all time low making it hard to justify keeping it open and what provision will be made for the educational facilty for schools to replace the newish build education room on the current site.

Moving to the old library building would make much more sense using an existing unused building with a central location and partitions could be used to create a shop area and cafe if deemed so essential, the current cafe is little more than some seating and a hot drinks machine so this seems a weak argument for not using the library site.

Keeping the displays to the Ground Floor used properly would allow for as much display space as currently available and would allow for disabled access with the First Floor being offices, storage and work areas. Saving the money currently spent on off-site storage.

J B Blackett wrote:

sai-diva wrote:
One by one the good things about my town are being sold off or decimated by this callous hard hearted council,a council that thinks nothing of wasting £500k on a no hope business scheme, but wont spend a penny to preserve an important part of Wycombe's culture.The wealth of a town is about more than money and shopping centres.I despair I really do, shame on you all,

Please do not include the general Wycombe (and District) population in that cry of 'shame on you all' , s-d.
.
It is the gangs of venal local politicians who run things in this area - if not corrupt they are totally self-absorbed and uncaring of the town and all its heritage.
.
But ordinary people are not allowed to get involved unless you join (as a low-life crony) one of their nasty horrible little gangs. It's called 'Gang Culture', I believe and they attack each other and any innocent bystanders who get in their way as well.
.
How did we end up with people like this poisonous mixture of inept money-grubbing ill-educated gangster-associated scoundrels and blithering idiots dictating to us ? Don't blame the innocent public , please. Thank you.

My remarks were aimed at those in power but, as you ask the question, ''How did we end up with people like this poisonous mixture of inept money-grubbing ill-educated gangster-associated scoundrels and blithering idiots dictating to us ?''
I feel moved to answer,and it's simple.The 'innocent public' voted for them. If the cap fits......, otherwise you have no cause to take offence.

sai-diva wrote:

J B Blackett wrote:

sai-diva wrote:
One by one the good things about my town are being sold off or decimated by this callous hard hearted council,a council that thinks nothing of wasting £500k on a no hope business scheme, but wont spend a penny to preserve an important part of Wycombe's culture.The wealth of a town is about more than money and shopping centres.I despair I really do, shame on you all,

Please do not include the general Wycombe (and District) population in that cry of 'shame on you all' , s-d.
.
It is the gangs of venal local politicians who run things in this area - if not corrupt they are totally self-absorbed and uncaring of the town and all its heritage.
.
But ordinary people are not allowed to get involved unless you join (as a low-life crony) one of their nasty horrible little gangs. It's called 'Gang Culture', I believe and they attack each other and any innocent bystanders who get in their way as well.
.
How did we end up with people like this poisonous mixture of inept money-grubbing ill-educated gangster-associated scoundrels and blithering idiots dictating to us ? Don't blame the innocent public , please. Thank you.

My remarks were aimed at those in power but, as you ask the question, ''How did we end up with people like this poisonous mixture of inept money-grubbing ill-educated gangster-associated scoundrels and blithering idiots dictating to us ?''
I feel moved to answer,and it's simple.The 'innocent public' voted for them. If the cap fits......, otherwise you have no cause to take offence.

I'm afraid I did not vote for any members of the entrenched gangs who got onto the Council. So I am also afraid the cap does not fit and I choose not to share the blame.
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I thought the people , who I did vote for , would have made far better , worthy and caring councillors for Wycombe, but alas more people voted for the expected major party left-overs , as is usual in this area.
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Perhaps I misunderstood your message / words in the first place. No offence intended.

wayneo wrote:

Veritad Veritad wrote:
The museum is not being sold off, it's being moved. Sensational and inaccurate headline by the BFP again

The Museum is being moved and the building from which it is being moved is being sold off, better?

Yes, better

ImpeturbableLawrence wrote:
Procopius - why - or didn't you understand my question - is that why you left the question mark?

You gave us two choices and I plumped for the second one.
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Wise, far-sighted, deep-thinking individuals don't say "I told you so". Particularly when it is bad news.

History is a bit like a good joke. It's not just the joke, it is the way it's told.

And to tell it well in these times of alternatives, you need some money.

Wycombe may be small but it shares a common history with many other towns and cities in the country.

It's not just 'only Wycombe'.

It's all there - a complete set!!

Some towns and cities are noted for their history but we have a considerable one too.

After searching around the Internet the site where the museum is located seems a very interesting part of Wycombe's distant history.

Probably far more substantial than many things displayed there from more recent times.

Has anyone asked the National Trust for an opinion? They seem to present their locations in Bucks in an exemplary way. In fact, I would say their properties in Bucks are 'gems'.

If some of that could rub off on Wycombe, it wouldn't be a bad thing.


s/w:
Whatever-happened-to
-Maximus?

Procopius! wrote:

ImpeturbableLawrence wrote:
Procopius - why - or didn't you understand my question - is that why you left the question mark?

You gave us two choices and I plumped for the second one.
~
Wise, far-sighted, deep-thinking individuals don't say "I told you so". Particularly when it is bad news.

I’m wise et cetera and I did – it just seemed a bit predictable with the way that it was presented by Councillor Katrina Wood – as if she were talking to children – ‘isn’t this good my darlings’ and now it seems the ‘consultation process’ had already taken place – ‘When asked if the public would be consulted over the move, the Conservative-control
led council said it held a budget consultation in 2009, in which the museum was the fourth most popular choice for a spending cut.’ ......
Like you say it IS bad news. When I worked there as a volunteer over ten years ago it was rumoured that it might relocate to Bassetsbury Manor but THAT has been sold also – to a private school at what seemed a modest price, if you compared it with non-listed houses in Beaconsfield or Gerrards Cross at the time. Why can’t the present museum be made into a charitable trust and have external alterations to make it more accessible to handicapped people?

Mutley wrote:
If the museum site were to be sold (and I am against its sale and the move of the museum), would there be planning restrictions as to what the site could be used for? It's one thing if it could be converted for community or health use or even offices (such as a firm of architects) and retain the green space, but if it is being sold as development land (eg for more flats!) then £750,000 seems remarkably cheap for such a large and well-positioned site. I say keep it as a long-term investment.

I should think it will be sold at a low price like Bassetsbury Manor and with no restrictions. After all - like the Manor - or the privatised public assets under Thatcher - it's only public property.

I should think it will be sold at a low price like Bassetsbury Manor and with no restrictions. After all - like the Manor - or the privatised public assets under Thatcher - it's only public property.

Plus ça change... wrote:
History is a bit like a good joke. It's not just the joke, it is the way it's told.

And to tell it well in these times of alternatives, you need some money.

Wycombe may be small but it shares a common history with many other towns and cities in the country.

It's not just 'only Wycombe'.

It's all there - a complete set!!

Some towns and cities are noted for their history but we have a considerable one too.

After searching around the Internet the site where the museum is located seems a very interesting part of Wycombe's distant history.

Probably far more substantial than many things displayed there from more recent times.

Has anyone asked the National Trust for an opinion? They seem to present their locations in Bucks in an exemplary way. In fact, I would say their properties in Bucks are 'gems'.

If some of that could rub off on Wycombe, it wouldn't be a bad thing.


s/w:
Whatever-happened-to

-Maximus?

'History is a bit like a good joke. It's not just the joke, it is the way it's told.'
/
History is just one **** thing after another!

That last post said 'History is just one d*a*m*n*e*d thing after another!'