Bangor Museum's short-term future guaranteed

Apr 2 2008 By Daniel Bissett

A MUSEUM has been given a reprieve after fears it would close as early as this month.

In January, it was announced the Gwynedd Museum and Art Gallery could be facing closure because council officers have to make more then £1m in cuts over the next three years from its lifelong learning service, and staff have been told they cannot support the museum financially.

Museum supporters had hit back saying the financial support from the council is worth only £60,000 a year and substantial savings could be made elsewhere.

However, the council has found that it can maintain the level of support for the museum for the current year.

Alan Dyer, chairman of the Friends of Gwynedd Museum, said: "The good news is we have had a temporary reprieve until April 2009, but the problem over financing the museum long-term is still a major concern for us.

"We have to find this money from somewhere, and if we can’t by this time next year, then we’re back to square one.

"A report is to be produced by June about what might happen and we’re doing all we can and it’s possible for us to raise a bit of money, but not the tens of thousands of pounds required.

"And the university aren’t saying anything."

The museum and art gallery is owned by Bangor University, but run by Gwynedd Council.

A working group involving Gwynedd county councillors from Bangor, university officials and Friends of Gwynedd Museum, is working together to look at alternative ways of finding the funding. The group met on March 12, with the next meeting scheduled for late April. Mr Dyer has been impressed with the general response since it was announced the museum could close.

"We’ve had hundreds of letters, some from AMs, MPs and councillors, all expressing their concern and 100% support," he said.

"I know it’s a tough period for Gwynedd Council because of the small schools issue, but it’s very important that facilities such as the museum and art gallery remain open.

"You have to remember this is only a temporary reprieve, and the council will be discussing its financial budget for 2009/10 in September, it’s a matter of months rather than till next year."

Mr Dyer believes the threat to the museum is indicative of the problems Bangor is facing at the moment.

"There’s the possibility the theatre is going to close and we’ve lost the cinema in the last few years too," he said.

"The gradual disappearance of public amenities means there’s a general anxiety about the way Bangor is heading."

A Gwynedd Council spokesman said due to their "difficult" financial situation, they have "no option" but to review all the services they provide and make savings and cuts to bridge the gap.

He said: "We have informed the university of the fact that the financial situation facing the council means we will not be in a position to continue to provide the museum with the same level of financial support in future years.

"At a meeting of the working group last month, council representatives explained that as a result of a reduction in the savings target of the Lifelong Learning Service for 2008/09, as well as the finalised council tax level for Gwynedd, that it would be possible to maintain the level of support for the museum this year.

"However, it was also underlined that savings will therefore need to be found from the museum budget for the 2009/10 financial year as part of the service’s savings target."