Skirmishes continue over the future of DLI museum
BILL EDGAR on how plans to renovate a much-loved museum have been caught up in politics
THE Durham Light Infantry (DLI) Museum and Art Gallery’s renovation plans have been dismissed as a “pet project”, with critics arguing that the council is spending too much money on the refurbishment.
The building used to house DLI artefacts until it closed in 2016 due to disrepair and developers have shared plans for its refurbishment, including a new exhibition centre, gallery and cafe.
When open, the venue is expected to attract between 60,000 and 150,000 visitors a year, and will include a display of key objects from the DLI Collection.
But amid financial uncertainty for Durham County Council, the Labour Party has questioned the decision to spend millions on the renovation, which it argues could be better spent elsewhere.
Labour leader Coun Carl Marshall told a full council meeting: “The cabinet are planning on spending £23m on a fancy restaurant and art gallery - a project branded as the reopening of the DLI, when their own press releases last week confirmed again that the DLI archives and collection will in fact open at The Story in June.
“It’s about time they came clean with the public. This pet project is a complete waste of taxpayers’ money, has no business plan or case, and adds additional pressures of £600,00 a year at least to the revenue budget.”
The Story, based at Mount Oswald on the outskirts of Durham city, is due to open in June. Billed as a brand-new cultural venue and register office for Durham and the wider county, it will be housed in the recently restored Grade II listed Mount Oswald manor house. It will also be the permanent home for the whole DLI Collection, reuniting it with the DLI Archive for the first time since 1998.
Labour councillor Julie Scurfield criticised the decision to invest council sums into a “high-end restaurant that the vast majority of our families will never set foot in because very many of them are struggling just to put food into their children’s bellies.” And Coun David McKenna said the council would be “using public money on something that’s not needed”.
But members of the Joint Administration in charge of the council rubbished Labour’s criticism and supported the plans for the site.
Coun Elizabeth Scott, cabinet member for economy, said: “Referring to the DLI as a high-end restaurant repeatedly is simply a lie and is propaganda.
“There is nothing in any official document talking about the facility as a restaurant.
“We have a proud military history that Labour tossed aside, and they have made no apology for that.”
Work will also be carried out to preserve and enhance the grounds of the building but concerns have been raised that the ashes of fallen military heroes will be disturbed during these works.
Coun McKenna said: “I am concerned at the idea of diggers and industrial equipment cutting through the turf where ashes of these Durham warriors have been laid to rest. This practice does not honour those who served the regiment.”
Durham County Council said topsoil from the site will be removed, preserved, and carefully re-laid in the new reflective garden area.