Anxious wait over museum building plans

groups wanting to take over the former Dewsbury Museum and Red House Museum buildings have submitted their expressions of interest to Kirklees Council.
Dewsbury Museum.Dewsbury Museum.
Dewsbury Museum.

They now face an anxious wait to hear whether or not they can progress with developing their proposals.

The Save Red House Museum and Gomersal Public Hall Group aims to turn the facility into a community venue, with the aim of reducing social isolation and giving teenagers a place to socialise. Plans the Friends of Dewsbury Park Mansion have drawn up include running community activity sessions at the former Dewsbury Museum.

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Anyone who takes over the two buildings will also need to find a way to generate income to keep them up and running. Kirklees Council is expected to make a decision on the expressions of interest on April 3.

An asset transfer of either building is expected to include a stipulation that the building is used for the benefit of the community, with the option of up to 30 per cent of it being used commercially. The museums were closed last year by the local authority, as it battled to cut £531,000 from its Museums and Galleries budget.

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