Hands off our museum
BO'NESS residents have sent Falkirk Council a clear signal regarding their feelings on the possible closure of Kinneil Museum.
At a public meeting in the library on Wednesday evening, there was unan-imous support for retention and expansion of the threatened facility.
Members of the public clamoured for the chance to speak out against Falkirk Council's suggestion that closure of the museum was a possibility.
Many speakers, however, praised the council's plans for an arts and heritage-led future for the Hippodrome Cinema. But, to a man, they insisted that the Hippo-drome and Kinneil Museum should be treated as "stand alone" projects.
And the strongest criticism of the night came from Ian Scott of Falkirk Local History Society who said the council's heritage and
culture strategy review
document should be torn up and thrown in the bin.
He said: "You are putting proposals for Kinneil Museum ahead of the whole strategy. The review is still ongoing. The heritage and culture review document is the worst I have ever seen.
"It is incomplete, lacking in vision and says absolutely nothing about the opportunities for heritage for our area and should be binned.
"Officers should be asked to start again because Falkirk district deserves much better."
Mr Scott said Historic Scotland and the officials pursuing World Heritage Status for the Antonine Wall were shocked that the possibility of tampering with Kinneil Museum and its Roman artefacts had even been mentioned.
Parent Tommy Timms took his nine-year-old son to the meeting to present a petition to the community council signed by pupils.
Mr Timms said: "My son has just visited Kinneil Museum for the first time and was fascinated. If just one child in Bo'ness shows an interest in the museum then that is reason enough for it to be retained!"
And Kate Erskine, a
former museum employee, added: "When I started work there in 1987 Kinneil Museum was a thriving and worthwhile place. Closure would be a barrier to
learning about our history.''
Community councillor Walter Stanners hit out: "It's all smoke and mirrors, the decision to close Kinneil Museum has been taken."
But that was refuted by environment and heritage convener, Robert Spears, and Borrowstoun councillor John Constable, who pledged full consultation.
Councillor Constable declared: "Decisions on the future of Kinneil Museum will be taken by the people of Bo'ness.''
He denied the building's closure was imminent and said: ''It will be business as usual for the next couple of years and there is no truth in the suggestion that it is to be sold for private housing."
Sue Selwyn, the council's head of culture and lifelong learning said: "We are committed to consultation through meetings and workshops with schools, groups and the community council."
Earlier this week, it was acknowledged that a report recommending closure of Kinneil Museum in Bo'ness had been ''ambiguously worded''.
David Alexander, leader of the SNP-led administration, said: "With the benefit of hindsight the wording of the initial report could have been better."
He called for an honest appraisal of the options available to the council for the re-development of Kinneil Museum and the use of the Hippodrome to house many of its artefacts, saying: "I'm sure that when our plans are properly explained to the Bo'ness public they will receive general acceptance.''
But community councillor Adrian Mahoney said he believed the council had been forced into a U-turn as a result of the publicity generated since the original decision in February.
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Weather for Boness
Friday 18 May 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 6 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North east
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Light rain
Temperature: 5 C to 9 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North east
