Museum opening hours could be slashed
STOCKPORT’S historic Staircase House would close to the public during the week and other museums have their opening hours slashed under plans put forward by the town hall.
Council bosses need to close a £10m funding gap next year - and are proposing to cut £150,000 from the museum budget as part of a bid to balance the books.
These include only opening Grade II listed Staircase House - a medieval building dating back to the mid-15th century at weekends, whereas it currently welcomes visitors six days a week.
A number of the town’s other historic attractions would also see their opening hours drastically cut under the proposals, which are currently out for public consultation.
Bramhall Hall - a Tudor manor house recently subject to a £1.6m renovation - would open Thursday to Sunday, rather than six days a week as would Stockport Air Raid Shelters, the War Memorial Art Gallery and The Hatworks. Schools and pre-booked groups would still be able to visit outside these times.
Chiefs are also proposing to close Stockport Museum - which opened in 2005 - once an overhaul of the Hat Museum’s gallery is completed early next year.
They say the museum does not ‘play a major part in the town’s heritage’ and has ‘struggled to establish itself’.
It is proposed that a ‘more suitable location’ is found for its popular family gallery (understood to be within the redeveloped Merseyway Shopping Centre) while other ‘key’ collections could be displayed at the War Memorial Art Gallery.
Town hall bosses also want to stop running Chadkirk Chapel, near Romiley, as a museum, but hope to find a local group to run its cafe.
The council’s online consultation says the museums are generally busiest at weekends and there are no weekdays when all sites are ‘consistently busy’.
Visitor levels at Staircase House are also said to be ‘significantly lower than elsewhere’.
It continues: “The council already has limited ability to change and refresh displays in its museums. This can discourage visitors returning to our sites after an initial visit because there is nothing new to see.
“The council proposes to focus on developing and improving those sites which are most important to defining Stockport’s identity as a town and which are most important as buildings in their own right.”
The town hall is also proposing to increase admission costs at the Air Raid Shelters, Bramall Hall, Hatworks and Staircase House - from April 2020.
Steven Cliffe - member and former vice-chair of Stockport Heritage Trust says the group is unhappy with the proposals.
Mr Cliffe, who also edited Stockport Heritage Magazine for several years, adds that the plans are particularly upsetting, given that the group ‘fought to save and restore’ Staircase House over many years. It was ultimately restored with nearly £4m of grants, including from the Lottery Heritage Fund.
He said: “I think the proposals are very shortsighted. They need to work out a different strategy all together regarding all these places.
“To save such a miniscule amount of money they could probably find from somewhere else if they thought about it.
“Clearly they think not very many people are interested in this type of subject, but when I was publishing the magazine I found a massive amount of people were interested, despite what some people might think.”
Coun Kate Butler, cabinet member for citizen focus and engagement, said it was important to appreciate Stockport was unusual in having seven council-run museums, whereas most authorities only have two or three.
“With reducing budgets we have been thinking for a long time about how we can make the visitor experience better whilst, at the same time, responding to the funding landscape that we’re in.
“It’s about making sure that the buildings and the collections are accessible at the times people actually want to visit.
“It’s about using the resources we have as wisely and efficiently as we possibly can.”
She stressed these remained proposals at this stage and said the council had ‘proven its commitment to preserving the town’s ‘historic core’ with its work around the Market Place and Underbanks.
Coun Butler said: “We know that Stockport heritage is really important to Stockport people and we are investing in it - particularly The Hatworks.”
An overhaul of The Hatworks’ machines starting in January means visitors will be able to see a working factory floor at the museum for the first time in many years. To take part in the consultation and for further details on the proposals visit consultation.stockport.gov.uk/