A professor at the University of Southampton has written to the leader of the local council to complain about its proposal to close the city's Museum of Archaeology.
Matthew Johnson, the head of archaeology at the university, wrote: 'The museum is so much more than just another local museum - it is one of the top ten such collections in the country. When I moved here two years ago, one of the attractions was Southampton's reputation and track record in caring for its heritage; God's House Tower [the building in which the museum is housed] has a national and international reputation in this respect.'
Adrian Vinson, the leader of Southampton City Council, said: 'I must emphasise that neither my group, nor the council's administration, or either of the other groups represented on the council, have as yet formulated their budget proposals.'
He said that the possibilities that have been aired so far were simply a list of options. The document containing the proposals recognises that closing the museum would lead to a possible loss of Designated Collection status and increased difficulty in gaining grant aid. This is offset against an estimate that the closure would save the council £55,000 a year.
A source close to the museum said they thought it unlikely that the council would go ahead with the closure, but added: 'I wouldn't say the museum is safe, and knowing both curators, I know they don't feel safe.'
The council will meet in February to make a decision on the proposals, which will be implemented in April if they get the go-ahead.
Meanwhile, Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council is looking to make savings of £400,000 in the next budget round, and is consulting on the future of the Berwick Borough Museum.
Residents are being given five options - closing the museum and putting the collections into storage, closing the museum and dispersing the collections, maintaining the museum in its current state, investing in the museum, or transferring the museum to a charitable trust. Budgets will be set on 21 January.
Patrick Steel
Matthew Johnson, the head of archaeology at the university, wrote: 'The museum is so much more than just another local museum - it is one of the top ten such collections in the country. When I moved here two years ago, one of the attractions was Southampton's reputation and track record in caring for its heritage; God's House Tower [the building in which the museum is housed] has a national and international reputation in this respect.'
Adrian Vinson, the leader of Southampton City Council, said: 'I must emphasise that neither my group, nor the council's administration, or either of the other groups represented on the council, have as yet formulated their budget proposals.'
He said that the possibilities that have been aired so far were simply a list of options. The document containing the proposals recognises that closing the museum would lead to a possible loss of Designated Collection status and increased difficulty in gaining grant aid. This is offset against an estimate that the closure would save the council £55,000 a year.
A source close to the museum said they thought it unlikely that the council would go ahead with the closure, but added: 'I wouldn't say the museum is safe, and knowing both curators, I know they don't feel safe.'
The council will meet in February to make a decision on the proposals, which will be implemented in April if they get the go-ahead.
Meanwhile, Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council is looking to make savings of £400,000 in the next budget round, and is consulting on the future of the Berwick Borough Museum.
Residents are being given five options - closing the museum and putting the collections into storage, closing the museum and dispersing the collections, maintaining the museum in its current state, investing in the museum, or transferring the museum to a charitable trust. Budgets will be set on 21 January.
Patrick Steel
