SUPPORT GIVEN TO RE-OPENING OF RAMSGATE MUSEUM

Plans to lease the Clock Tower building and Smeaton Dock to the Steam Museum Trust to enable the re-opening of the Ramsgate Maritime Museum have been supported by the council's Cabinet.

At their meeting last night (Tuesday 16 June), they agreed that a Letter of Occupation should be provided to the Trust to allow the museum to open during the summer season. This was proposed ahead of a final formal legal agreement, which is unlikely to be ready before the opening date.

Support was given to the plans, but final agreement cannot be given to the proposals until the Cabinet meeting in August. This is because the Clock Tower building is currently on the council's asset disposal list. The process of asset management will not be concluded until proposals come forward from first the Asset Working Party and then the Overview and Scrutiny Panel. This report will go to Cabinet in August.

Ramsgate Maritime Museum closed in November 2008, after a review identified that the museum and Margate Museum were failing to attract significant visitor numbers from outside the area. Each visit was being subsidised by Council Taxpayers by at least £9.60 per head. A survey with local residents also showed that museums were viewed as a low priority.
As a result, the grant to the East Kent Maritime Trust, who operated both museums, was withdrawn from the 2008/09 financial year.

Detailed negotiations have been held with the Steam Museum Trust, who want to re-open the museum this summer and provide public access to the nearby tug Cervia over time, which will undergo a phased restoration. The proposals would see a full redisplay of the museum galleries by the Trust over the next three years, with investment to provide a café and improved gift shop. A new programme of up to six weekend events a year will also be introduced by the Trust based around the museum forecourt.

Cllr. Roger Latchford, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said: "The proposals put forward by the Steam Museum Trust are exceptionally welcome. They should see the reopening and operation of the Ramsgate Maritime Museum, which is excellent news for the area. We are aware that the museum is a valuable asset for Thanet, both as a visitor attraction and for the historical importance of the exhibitions it holds. We look forward to seeing it back in business again, thanks to the Steam Museum Trust."

Cabinet will be asked to make a final agreement on this at their meeting on Thursday 6 August.