Relocation on cards for city museum

Proposals for a combined city centre library and museum are being made in a report to Wakefield Council’s Cabinet meeting on May 31.

Council chiefs say the plan would create a more accessible heritage service while the listed museum building in Wood Street would be used by Wakefield College as a performing arts venue.

Cabinet members are being asked to agree a 25-year lease of the building to the college for a peppercorn rent to help support the college and its aspirations for a city centre campus.

The museum services at Wood Street would be temporarily suspended to the public this autumn to allow sufficient time to prepare its relocation to the council’s civic building as part of the library.

Wakefield Council’s cabinet member for culture, David Dagger, said: “These proposals mean that more people would be able to see both permanent and temporary exhibitions and have access to materials for local studies and family histories in purpose-built building.

“The museum service has no choice but to reduce its costs in the light of the loss of national funding. Visitor numbers to the museum are falling and the building in Wood Street needs considerable investment to stop its long-term decline.

“Relocating to Westgate means we can give better value for money, without reducing the quality, conservation or care of our collection.

“We are investing in the future and doing the best we can with resources available.”

Coun Dagger said that the proposal would allow the council to maintain a sustainable museum service, including an education and outreach programme, and would encourage more people to see permanent and temporary exhibitions in new facilities.