Lottery grant for Wycombe Museum relocation (From Bucks Free Press)
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Lottery grant for Wycombe Museum relocation
4:26pm Thursday 2nd August 2012 in High Wycombe By Simon Farr
Wycombe Museum is set to move to Wycombe District Council's HQ
THE scheme to move Wycombe Museum into Wycombe District Council’s headquarters has been given a boost after a £77,000 award from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The grant will be used to design and plan the museum’s relocation from its Priory Avenue base to a ground-floor section of the council’s Queen Victoria Road HQ, which is currently used by Thames Valley Police.
The building will be extended out into the southern gardens on the council land to incorporate a cafe and shop to help boost revenue.
The council is also confident of landing a second round grant from the lottery fund to help pay for the project, estimated to cost £2m.
WDC’s Cabinet agreed on Tuesday night to make arrangements for an independent trust to manage the Museum and Arts Development Service.
The trust will take over the day-to-day running of the museum in a move to save the council money; with the current museum building - which has been home to Wycombe’s heritage for 50 years - to be sold off.
Cllr Katrina Wood, WDC’s Cabinet member for Community, said: “We’ve been looking long and hard to find a way to make our museum sustainable and fit for the future.
“We are determined to keep the local museum run by local people – one which not only reflects, but also plays an active part in local life, culture and heritage.
“This is great news and means we can now start working towards planning not only a new location but a new way to deliver this service within our community.”
The museum’s manager Richard de Peyer said there is a “buzz about the place” and revealed the launch of a new volunteering project.
Residents are being sought to photograph and record every artefact in the museum’s stores for planning new exhibitions and storylines, and to ensure nothing is missed out for the move to its new centre in 2014.
To volunteer your services call the museum on 01494 421867.
Comments(9)
wayneo
says...
11:38pm Thu 2 Aug 12
demoness the second
says...
7:14am Fri 3 Aug 12
wayneo wrote:Isn't it a good idea to have it more centralised though?
A grant from the heritage fund, that allows for err, the removal of part of our heritage. Would it require 2 million pounds if it were to just stay where it is?
My understanding was that there were problems with disabled access in the present site.
I think having it in the town centre can surely only be a good thing.
It has only been there 50 years... what is the problem really?
miccles
says...
9:38am Fri 3 Aug 12
demoness the second wrote:"It has only been there 50 years... what is the problem really?”
wayneo wrote:Isn't it a good idea to have it more centralised though?
A grant from the heritage fund, that allows for err, the removal of part of our heritage. Would it require 2 million pounds if it were to just stay where it is?
My understanding was that there were problems with disabled access in the present site.
I think having it in the town centre can surely only be a good thing.
It has only been there 50 years... what is the problem really?
lol.. Perhaps somebody could compile a "post it note", and write down all the problems they have had over the last 50 years.
wayneo
says...
10:03am Fri 3 Aug 12
demoness the second wrote:Disabled access is always the old excuse wheeled out, disabled access, if it is a problem, could be resolved, we are in 2012 after all, I'd rather the Council would just admit this is about flogging off an asset, with an 11% cut in grant, they sure do need to save money.
wayneo wrote: A grant from the heritage fund, that allows for err, the removal of part of our heritage. Would it require 2 million pounds if it were to just stay where it is?Isn't it a good idea to have it more centralised though? My understanding was that there were problems with disabled access in the present site. I think having it in the town centre can surely only be a good thing. It has only been there 50 years... what is the problem really?
That said, I would expect there to be more 'passing', opportunistic visitors in the town centre rather than the current location. Not sure whether the bodger's camp would have a similiar atmosphere next to the side of the Council offices though.
miccles
says...
10:25am Fri 3 Aug 12
wayneo
says...
12:27pm Fri 3 Aug 12
miccles wrote:That's how I would see it Miccles, yes. That said, at least they've managed to get some funding for the new site, I guess it boils down to cuts to the grant and the Council having to migitate the shortfall with their own cuts.
Even if disabled access was/is the problem, surely it would be cheaper to make it viable inside to accomodate wheelchairs etc, i'm assuming this building is listed, so changes inside shouldn't affect that.
ArnyP_HW
says...
3:19pm Fri 3 Aug 12
DonRockell
says...
6:22pm Thu 9 Aug 12
I wonder if anyone went there
geoffW says...
6:37pm Thu 2 Aug 12
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ALL WDC officers and councillors MUST declare if they have any links whatever with the eventually purchaser.