WE ASKED whether you could help save the isle’s museums and you said YES.

Last week we launched a campaign to get Margate and Ramsgate museums reopened by the summer and support has been flooding in.

Quex Park has offered expert help in setting up a museum trust and a venue to hold meetings. The Fayreness Hotel in Kingsgate will host a fundraising dinner on May 22 and the Margate Civic Society and Margate Town Partnership have pledged their time to help run the town’s museum.

Offers of support have flooded in from our readers to help give up a few hours a week to run the museums, give donations or hold fundraising activities.

We can reveal that Thanet council leaders are in crunch talks with Michael List-Brain from Preston Steam Museum over the running of the Ramsgate museum.

An announcement on the future of the maritime museum is due after Easter. Leader Sandy Ezekiel said his authority had plans for the Margate museum but would not consider letting volunteers reopening the doors of Margate museum until a "detailed business plan" had been submitted.

Deputy leader Cllr Roger Latchford said: "We’re in very serious negotiations. Let’s see what we can do with regard to opening them in time for summer."

Ex-Margate museum curator Bob Bradley had been clearing out his personal collection and returning artefacts to those who donated to the museum but was stunned to find that the locks to the museum had been changed overnight Tuesday.

Have your say at an open meeting

The Isle of Thanet Gazette will hold a meeting on the future of the Ramsgate and Margate museums so people can give their views and ideas for the future.

It will be held at Quex Park, Birchington, after Easter. District council leader Sandy Ezekiel has pledged to attend as well as representatives from Margate Town Partnership, Margate Civic Society and Friends of Ramsgate Library.

The meeting was arranged after a generous offer of support from Keith Dunmall, audience development and learning manager for the Quex Park’s Powell-Cotton museum – which has lent its full support to our campaign.

As the largest independent museum in Kent, it has just submitted its application to the Museum Accreditation Scheme. Among the governors are Christopher Spring from the British Museum, the Natural History Museum director Michael Dixon and Martin Rowson from the Zoological Society of London, which runs London Zoo.

Mr Dunmall said: “We’re working with the Charity Commission at the moment so if it comes to setting up a museum, we’ve been through it and are familiar with the current terms. We’re in a good position to support people who want to get them up and running. The Powell-Cotton family’s ethos is that having a local museum is vital.

"We can probably get involved in fundraising events and can offer advice and support as well as a venue for meetings. We’re extremely keen to get the community to come together and it’s very encouraging that this campaign is able to whip up such support. The museums should bring the community together and build strong links with schools in Thanet with education programmes. If it’s footfall that the council want then that’s achievable.”

WE ASKED you for help to get Margate and Ramsgate museums up and running again and you, our readers, have responded in your droves.

Last week we called on the people of Thanet to join our campaign to Save the Past for the Future and back the town’s two closed museums by raising money, helping out as a volunteer or just by showing support.

We have been inundated by responses from people offering time, money and fundraising ideas.

You made it clear that you want these museums reopened in time for the summer tourists to enjoy.

Margate Town Partnership chairman Ann Smith said her group stands ready to work with other partners to reopen the town’s museum.

She said: “The museum is the heart of the Old Town and it is vital that it is reopened.”

The council is in talks with Michael List-Brain from the Preston Steam Museum about saving both museums and taking on the running of the exhibitions.

Council leader Sandy Ezekiel welcomed the Isle of Thanet Gazette campaign, but insisted that a business plan was needed and that talks with the Mr List-Brain are “positive”.

He said: “The museums in their current format won’t continue. Our budgets do not let us fund them.

“The council is in ongoing negotiations and until they are concluded we can make no further comment.”

Tuck in to help museums

A THREE-course fundraising dinner will be held at Kingsgate’s Fayreness Hotel on May 22 from 7.30pm. Places cost £15.

Organiser Stephen Shrubb said: “We will have a raffle and bingo to raise money. All profits from the evening will go towards reopening and running of Thanet's much loved but under valued museums.”

On the menu is leek and potato soup, homemade pie and mash with vegetables followed by apple crumble and custard.

Raffle prizes are welcome, call 07814 306 664 to donate.

To book a table, call 01843 868641. Places are limited to 120 so early booking is advised.

Keep your comments coming in by leaving your message of support below or email thom.morris@krnmedia.co.uk