Waterways Museum on brink of closure
THE National Waterways Museum will close at the end of September unless volunteers can be found to run it.
The museum's budget has been slashed after British Waterways saw a £10-million cut in its budget for the coming year.
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rescue bid: Gloucester Mayor Chris Witts at the National Waterways Museum.
The cuts have forced the nationalised company, which receives an annual grant from the Government, to direct all available funds to operating the nation's canals.
The museum, which once employed four full-time and two part-time staff, is now run by one full-time manager and one part-time staff member.
It has already started closing on Mondays and Tuesdays and has cut its opening hours.
Gloucester Civic Trust last night said it had stepped in to try to save the museum and plans to move its visitor information point from College Street to the foyer of the museum in Llanthony Warehouse.
But the trust said it would need to attract several volunteers to help keep the business running and return to seven-day opening.
The group hopes the museum will be able to take advantage of the increased footfall in the area since the opening of the nearby designer outlet.
Trust chairman Robin Morris said: "It is unthinkable that this major national museum in our city should close. It must operate seven days a week if Gloucester Docks is to make any credible claim to be a major tourist attraction.
"We just cannot have a repeat of the disaster when Robert Opie's museum of packaging was driven out of the Docks because a deal with British Waterways could not be agreed.
"We believe it is imperative that the museum remains as a major draw in that vital area between the Quays and the city centre and attracts visitors towards the central area shops, the Cathedral and elsewhere.
"Together with the Mayor of Gloucester we will shortly be launching an appeal for more people to come forward and save the museum by volunteering a few hours of their time on a regular basis."
Coun Chris Witts, Gloucester Mayor, is a former barge skipper on the River Severn and Gloucester to Sharpness Canal, and already helps out at workshops for schools at the museum.
He said: "I was horrified to hear of the threat to the National Waterways Museum, and I am prepared to throw my weight behind the effort to save it."
Museum manager Doreen Davies has been working a seven day week to keep the museum going.
She said: "When the museum opened there were four full-time employees and two part-time.
"Now there is just me and one part-timer.
"We need at least a dozen more committed volunteers to add to those we already have and develop the museum's activities.
"The opening of The Quays has provided us with a great opportunity."
43 Comments
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by COULD HELP, gloucester
Tuesday, August 18 2009, 7:12AM
“is there a phone number to ring to be a volunteer?”
by mike, Cheltenham
Monday, August 17 2009, 10:51PM
“Why is the waterways Museum in Gloucester?
Its hardly the center of the Uk canal network. I would have thought that it was more suited to the West Midlands.
Sorry to sound ignorant but I am relatively new to the area.”
by Alien Life UK, Here, I think
Monday, August 17 2009, 10:41PM
“Prime location for development, and I am sure the Waterways Board know what it is worth.”
by J, GLOS
Monday, August 17 2009, 9:49PM
“A 'national' waterways museum with hardly any boats/ships on permanent display? What on earth were they thinking? Is it any wonder visitor numbers are so poor.
I agree with the many comments about Robert Opie- what a clanger that was in losing him.
The museum alone is not enough to attract day visitors (people making a day of it at The Docks). Pizza Piaza's gone along wth the shops at Merchants Quay and now were told this structure, built in the late eighties, is unsafe.
And they we were being told how the Quays outlet would bring extra footfall and visitors- rubbish and utter spin as usual.
I would urge all those interested in helping out not to bother. History and too many painful experiences tells me the Waterways Museum will close, regardless of public support- because someone or something much bigger and more powerful than us mere tax payers has already decided its fate and have it pencilled in within a 5 year business plan.
Dont mean to sound negative, just stating hard and painful facts.
You only need to take a look around the centre of Birmingham and the canal network- (particularly around the National Indoor Arena and Sea Life Centre. Its an absolute triumph- blending heritage with attractions, cafes, bars, landscaping and things to do. Our Docks could have been even better but now its too late.”
by Richard Graham, Gloucester
Monday, August 17 2009, 9:08PM
“We have a Museum most of us treasure, but not enough staff, visitors or money to keep it going as it is. No good moaning about it. If we want to keep what should be called the Gloucester Waterways Museum we've all got to help. The Civic Trust has some ideas but needs volunteers. Calling on pensioners and the unemployed - can you give some hours of your time? Also have parents brought your children and grandparents your grandchildren to see the Museum? And school teachers - has your class visited? The Museum is also a great venue for parties - so corporates need look no further. I think the the Museum Trustees can be bolder on their marketing so that Quays visitors do know the Musuem is there and waiting. If we all help man the Museum and bring in visitors, and good use is made of the upper floors (currently unused), I believe the finances and the Museum's future can be turned round.
Richard”
by Bob, Gloucester
Monday, August 17 2009, 8:41PM
“We have to face facts, there is more money to be made from selling apartments than hosting museum pieces. Look what we had, the Package museum which was world famous, a magnificent antiques centre and finally the British waterways museum. Lack of funding, lack of interest and lack of spine from our city officials - more important to look after the welfare of travellers and where to stick the next unesessary traffic light cluster than help our heritage. The way things are going the Cathedral will be a mosque or a block of flats within the next ten years.”
by Preserve British History, Gloucester
Monday, August 17 2009, 8:22PM
“Why is it that the National Lottery gives funds to some quite unusual and undeserving schemes while worthy causes like the Nat. Waterways Museum isnt given a penny? Wake up Britain I say = help preserve the history of our great nation or you wont be forgiven by future generations...”
by martin glos city, city centre
Monday, August 17 2009, 6:53PM
“I fear its too late to save personally, i have enjoyed several visits with my children and will be sadened by its demise. Vast summs of capital have been invested in the dock basins turning ageing old warehouses good for pigeons and gulls only, to executive penthoses, still of no use to me or you? yet the very soul of the area, the history seems to of been hidden, steralised. The seagulls regardless will reign!!! but when u look back 25/30 yrs ago who was it that trippled the rates and quadrupled the rent for those that did work in and around the docks?? should we of not spotted the writing on the wall then.”
by Dinsdale, Gloucester
Monday, August 17 2009, 5:07PM
“This museum must be saved. Already the so called Historic Docks is just a collection of flats and a car park. If this is allowed to close they might as well take down all the "Historic Docks" signs that are on the approch to gloucester because there will be nothing to look at.
All we have will be yet another warehouse converted into flats, maybe Britsh Waterways have already have plans drawn up?”
by CC, Hardwicke
Monday, August 17 2009, 4:17PM
“I am a big fan of the Waterways museum and will do all I can to help save it from closure.
I spent lots of time volunteering when I was a student and loved it. There are an abundance of students over the road at the new college to help out!
There must be some course students which would benefit from volunteering.
The college should encourage the students to take an interest in their local heritage and enjoy it !”