Andover Town Council has unanimously agreed in principle to contribute £150,000 over three years towards a joint funding package aimed at securing the future of Andover Museum.
The proposal, approved at a recent council meeting, would see the town council contribute £50,000 a year over three years as part of a £300,000 package being developed alongside Test Valley Borough Council. The agreement remains subject to a number of conditions and further discussions.
During the debate, councillors from across the chamber spoke in support of preserving the museum, describing it as a valuable cultural and heritage asset for the town.
Cllr Katherine Bird said: “Our museum is a huge part of Andover, it is unique, and as we have discovered over the years if things disappear, they don’t always come back and we do lose part of that heritage issue.
“I think it is a resource that we have to support. I think it is right we are putting in checks and balances to make sure that what we are doing is what residents want from us.
“I think it is absolutely vital that we support our asset and that we contribute towards this.”
Cllr Robin Hughes said recent uncertainty surrounding local government reorganisation had reinforced the need to support the museum.
He said: “When I first saw this I was a bit concerned as it wasn’t many days ago we all thought that Hampshire County Council and Test Valley Borough Council were going to disappear.
“Now, we all know that everything has changed. We didn’t know much before that on what was going to happen, we actually know a lot less.
“Because of that I think it is absolutely imperative we actually support keeping that museum open one way or another and making sure it still exists for at least three years because in that time a proper solution may be found.”
Cllr Mark Farren acknowledged concerns that had been raised by some residents about the cost of the proposal but argued the museum’s long-term value outweighed those concerns.
He said: “I don’t think anyone can question the value of the Andover Museum and the exhibits within it but I have been asked by the public, ‘Is this really a good use of taxpayer money? Do enough people use the Andover Museum to justify the expense?’
“I don’t know. I haven’t conducted a petition for finding out how many people are interested in saving the Andover Museum.
“I think we should try and save the museum. It’s not for us, it’s for the future generations, it’s for the young people in this room.
“I think the museum adds value to our town, probably more so than the town council, so we should look to be joining in this opportunity to try and save it.”
Cllr Luigi Gregori also spoke in favour of the funding package, saying the museum’s future should be considered above political considerations.
He said: “I think it is an important cultural asset and it beholds us as residents to stand up for it and support it and to put our money where our mouth is.
“Irrespective of what these changes of reorganisation to local government have, if we do not invest in the museum the museum is due to close. This has been reported and it has also been confirmed by Hampshire Cultural Trust.
“We need to strip away all the politics and concentrate, is this an asset to the town that we need to keep, the answer is yes.”
The recommendation was approved unanimously by councillors.’