Canterbury sheriff volunteers to man desk at Herne Bay Museum

SHERIFF of Canterbury Gabrielle Davis has volunteered to man the desk in a bid to keep Herne Bay's museum open.

The Tory councillor of Beltinge, who represents Reculver ward, made the surprise offer at a meeting of Herne Bay councillors on Tuesday.

She announced: "Why don't we all volunteer to run the museum ourselves?

"I would be happy to help if it means keeping the treasures of Victorian Herne Bay together in the town. We could charge an entry fee to bring in an income."

Her proposal was supported by political rivals and councillors agreed to ask the city council's executive to consider the unusual suggestion at its budget meeting at Canterbury's Guildhall tonight, Thursday.

But in a briefing to the Herne Bay Times, council leader Cllr John Gilbey warned supporters: "We have looked at museums in other towns which have been run by volunteers and they have been a financial disaster. It could also put at risk our museum accreditation for all other museums. It is unlikely we will be able to agree to this."

The Tories want to close the museum in William Street as part of a bid to save £49,000, and also plan to axe Canterbury's Roman Museum and West Gate Towers Museum.

On Tuesday the council's head of finance Jim McDonald stunned Bay councillors by insisting the museum would still be open - but for school visits only.

He admitted people would no longer be able to simply turn up and the collection would be spread across the town, sending the Barnes Wallis replica "bouncing bomb" to the new resource centre at Reculver.

Retired art and education lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University Janet Cook won a round of applause when she made an impassioned plea to save the museum.

The member of the town's contemporary art group CT6 said: "The objects in our museum are a repository of the history and culture of our town. Many valuable items were given on the understanding that they will be on public view and not just stored away.

"A museum is like the soul of a community."

She was part of a team in Mortimer Street on three Saturdays before Christmas collecting more than 2,000 signatures against the museum's closure. People of all ages queued to sign and it was handed over to Cllr Gilbey on Thursday.

Mrs Cook said: "One grandmother told me her grandson was very upset because he loves the museum and knows every shark's tooth in it.

"The following week she returned to say he had prepared his own petition and sat at a table outside his house to get his neighbours and passers-by to sign.

"Experience in the regeneration of cities shows that museums and art galleries can lead the way. Are we going in the opposite direction?"

What the others said:

Dick Eburne, Western Esplanade: "I would gladly pay an entrance fee if it would help keep the museum open. We need suggestions on how to fund the museum if the council can't."

Andrew Cook, Station Road: "We stand on the edge of going forward or sliding backwards into oblivion.

"To consider closing our museum will not only destroy any perception of regeneration but will loose one of the few visitor and well-used educational assets the town has to offer."

Head of finance Jim McDonald: "It is wrong to talk of closure of Herne Bay Museum. The proposal is that educational access will continue."

Cllr Ron Flaherty: "The director of finance is telling us closure does not mean closure. Is this a big U-turn?"