Plans to close Brighton History Centre (From The Argus)
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Plans to close Brighton History Centre
2:00pm Tuesday 15th December 2009 in News By Tim Ridgway, Local government reporter
A history centre described as a “unique one stop shop for information” is set to close.
Brighton and Hove City Council has put forward proposals to shut Brighton History Centre as part of a bid to save almost £8 million from its overall budget in the next year.
But its users claim the closure, which will save the council £62,000, will be a devastating blow.
A city council spokeswoman said: “A range of efficiency savings have been proposed across council services in the draft budget for next financial year.
“Many involve the reorganisation of services to offer better value for money while maintaining quality.
“These are still under discussion and will have to be considered by a meeting of the full council in the new year.”
Comments(14)
quedula
says...
3:00pm Tue 15 Dec 09
Totally Provincial
says...
3:13pm Tue 15 Dec 09
puddingandpi
says...
4:05pm Tue 15 Dec 09
Where is it? Is it free?
If I'd known I would've paid a visit.
If they'd marketed it properly, they might not have to close. Have they got a donations box by the front door? I used to work in a small, free museum & people will often give a donation if there's a means available.
kizmiaz
says...
4:12pm Tue 15 Dec 09
puddingandpi wrote:The History Centre is on the top floor of the Brighton Museum in Royal Pavilion Gardens, just along the corridor from the cafe.
I didn't even know we had one! Where is it? Is it free? If I'd known I would've paid a visit. If they'd marketed it properly, they might not have to close. Have they got a donations box by the front door? I used to work in a small, free museum & people will often give a donation if there's a means available.
It's free to browse any of the records (a charge is made for printing and photocopying as is usual), and there is a small selection of books to buy. It has all the Brighton parish records on microfilm, all the town censuses, Argus archives, trade directories, more books about the area than you can possibly read in a lifetime and lots more.
Its an oasis of calm and tranquility in the centre of Brighton, and should not be lost.
Gentleman Jim
says...
5:36pm Tue 15 Dec 09
I would imagine that the same amount could be saved by discontinuing that one day summer procession which causes wide spread disruption to the town.
Mr Pickwick
says...
5:47pm Tue 15 Dec 09
Councillors should tell the officers to go back and come up with efficiency savings that involve back office people, not front line people, because that's where big savings can be made. At the same time, all staff may have to give a bit up to save their jobs. It's going to be a bumpy ride over the nest few years. Anyone who thinks they can protect their patch and keep on in the same old way is deluding themself. There will be big cuts - it's how they are made that is the question.
stan bailey
says...
6:06pm Tue 15 Dec 09
kizmiaz wrote:But it doesn't have knobs and buttons for brats to play with. It isn't particularly multi cultural and sexual orientation driven. Once just a few old working class folks, and few white well to do's lived here. Not PC anymore
puddingandpi wrote:The History Centre is on the top floor of the Brighton Museum in Royal Pavilion Gardens, just along the corridor from the cafe.
I didn't even know we had one! Where is it? Is it free? If I'd known I would've paid a visit. If they'd marketed it properly, they might not have to close. Have they got a donations box by the front door? I used to work in a small, free museum & people will often give a donation if there's a means available.
It's free to browse any of the records (a charge is made for printing and photocopying as is usual), and there is a small selection of books to buy. It has all the Brighton parish records on microfilm, all the town censuses, Argus archives, trade directories, more books about the area than you can possibly read in a lifetime and lots more.
Its an oasis of calm and tranquility in the centre of Brighton, and should not be lost.
greenpaws
says...
6:32pm Tue 15 Dec 09
I'm gay and I love history, especially, the development of towns and cities.
It would be appreciated if you kept your out-of-date prejudices out of the equation and you commented on the actual subject.
Totally Provincial
says...
6:39pm Tue 15 Dec 09
greenpaws wrote:Greenpaws, if you look again, you'll find it is Stan Bailey you have an issue with, NOT Kizmiaz, whose post was totally reasonable and balanced.
Kizmiaz, history is history and may encompass multi-cultural and sexual orientation issues. I'm gay and I love history, especially, the development of towns and cities. It would be appreciated if you kept your out-of-date prejudices out of the equation and you commented on the actual subject.
However, I agree with you: news flash to the terminally-blinkered and bigotted...gay people have ancestors and a personal history too, just like everybody else! Amazing, isn't it?
prestonman
says...
8:19pm Tue 15 Dec 09
kizmiaz
says...
10:14pm Tue 15 Dec 09
No planning application has even been submitted yet, and this won't take place until summer next year at the earliest!
Part of the planning process is to recruit consultants to draw up a business plan for the building. Whats the bet that these consultants will cost vastly more than the savings made from closing the History Centre?
Christophe Hawtree
says...
9:42am Wed 16 Dec 09
anne1483
says...
8:59pm Wed 16 Dec 09
kizmiaz says...
2:42pm Tue 15 Dec 09
It is not just the facilities themselves which will be lost, but the staff there who will lose their jobs who are as helpful and knowledgeable as it is possible to be, and it will be much to the detriment of all if they go. The plan to move some of the resources to the Jubilee Library will inevitably be a poor compromise, with most of the documents, books, and documents locked up never to be seen again.