Two Kent museums closed last month following Thanet District Council's decision earlier this year to cut its grant to the East Kent Maritime Trust.
Thanet's cabinet member for culture and the economy, councillor Roger Latchford, said "budget constraints... led to the unavoidable withdrawal" of the council's £100,000 annual grant to the trust, which was created in 1983 to operate Ramsgate Maritime Museum. In the mid-1990s Thanet council asked the trust to take over the council's Margate Seaside Museum. Its seven staff have all been made redundant.
In a statement the trust said it hoped that a new heritage association could be formed to take over the running of the museums. It is net year clear what will happen to the collection if this does not happen. Some of the collection came from Thanet when it handed over the museum in Margate to the trust.
Thanet's cabinet member for culture and the economy, councillor Roger Latchford, said "budget constraints... led to the unavoidable withdrawal" of the council's £100,000 annual grant to the trust, which was created in 1983 to operate Ramsgate Maritime Museum. In the mid-1990s Thanet council asked the trust to take over the council's Margate Seaside Museum. Its seven staff have all been made redundant.
In a statement the trust said it hoped that a new heritage association could be formed to take over the running of the museums. It is net year clear what will happen to the collection if this does not happen. Some of the collection came from Thanet when it handed over the museum in Margate to the trust.
