Town council still looking to take on Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery

Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery had been on a list of services at risk of closure due to a withdrawal of local authority funding.

However, Clive Wright, chief executive of Shropshire Council revealed earlier this week that the authority plans to use "one-off" funding to plug a multi-million budget gap over the next three years, providing a stay of execution for services across the county.

Councillor Alan Mosley, leader of Shrewsbury Town Council, which has been in discussions over taking on the management of the museum, said that they are intending to proceed with discussions. He said: "We are still looking at the propositions that are on the table as we understand that Shropshire Council is still intent on transferring the functions of the museum although clearly we would expect that there will be a more incremental transfer with some additional Shropshire Council support in the period of transition."Councillor Mosley said that it is vital that the museum is given a stable future.

He said: "I believe this matters for the benefit of staff, residents and visitors. I think this process needs to be done as quickly as possible to avoid a sense of uncertainty, confusion, and threat which is currently hanging over the service.

"It makes sense to protect and promote these services and as soon as there can be some long term solution the better for all involved."

Currently Shropshire Council spends about £262,000 on funding museums in Shrewsbury. That figure also goes towards others like Coleham Pumping Station, which is also under threat.

Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery opened in 2014 following a five-year restoration project which cost around £10.5 million.

Shrewsbury Town Council has already agreed with Shropshire Council that it will base itself in another Shropshire Council premises, the town's library on Castle Gates.

It is also expected to take on the running of the library service, another which Shropshire Council is looking to secure new management for.

Six weeks of construction work needed before the town council can move into the building began earlier this month and is expected to be completed by the end of October.

A budget of £200,000 has been set aside for the work although the council says it hopes the changes will come in under budget.

The library was the home of Shrewsbury School between 1550 and 1882 with a library opening at the site in 1885.

It was temporarily relocated to Raven Meadows in 1976 while the building underwent extensive renovations.

It was officially reopened by Princess Margaret in 1983.