'Keep museum open to public at weekends'
A 500-YEAR-OLD timber–framed house in Sheffield is at the centre of a 21st century protest over threatened public spending cuts.
Community representatives are rallying against proposed restrictions in the opening hours of Bishops' House at the top of Meersbrook Park.
They fear a 2.5% council cut to Museums Sheffield's budget will result in the building being closed to the public at weekends.
The best preserved timber-framed house in Sheffield, with many of its original features, it typifies a smaller English domestic house in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Protesters are concerned that it is at the forefront of threatened museums' and galleries' cutbacks, facing closure at weekends, except for visits by school groups, and only opened at other times on "special occasions".
Dave Holt, of the Friends of Bishops' House, said: "It has been privately explained to me that it is too politically sensitive to limit access to the glossy landmark of the Millennium Gallery.
"It would also take some serious explaining to funders if hours were reduced at Weston Park Museum after the embarrassing million-pound plus overspend during its refurbishment.
"Thus, access for Sheffielders and visitors to authentic history at Bishops' House bites the dust.
"School trips are not at threat as they actually generate income. It is the public access which we are seeking to maintain."
Naomi Brent, who chairs Meersbrook Park Users' Trust, said: "Bishop's House is 500 years old and a fantastic building. If it closes at weekends there is a worry that it might never open again. There's also anxiety locally that it might be vandalised."
A protest petition has more than 100 signatures and a public meeting held to discuss the future of the building.
Heeley MP Meg Munn, who attended the meeting, said: "Bishops' House needs to be protected and supported. There can be no doubt that local people consider Bishop's House a real part of the community, and that it is close to many people's hearts.
"It's important that Museums Sheffield focus on income generation and promoting what they hold rather than simply looking to cut budgets."
Eric Hildrew, acting head of marketing at Museums Sheffield, said: "We have put forward a number of ways of making savings, one of which would have an impact on opening hours at Bishops' House.
"It receives around 8,000 visitors a year but the vast majority are school children. At weekends there are between 10 and 80 visitors.
"However, there is no done deal. We are interested in what we can do with local people to make the best use of the house. Sheffield Council will make the final decision on what we propose."
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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