Thousands sign up for Black Country museum rescue

Campaigners who are part of Dudley Civic Society are calling on the borough council to rethink its proposals to close Dudley Museum and Art Gallery.

The attraction, in St James's Road, faces closure under council plans to save £20 million over the next three years.

Almost 3,650 people have signed the online petition with organisers hoping to push the figure towards 4,000.

Council bosses will discuss the plans to close the attraction alongside its wider budget proposals ahead of start of the new financial year in April.

Council bosses claimed arts and culture in the borough would not be harmed by the museum's closure when the plans were first revealed in October.

Artefacts would move to Dudley Archives and Local History Centre, in Tipton Road, near the Black Country Living Museum.

However campaigners say it will take another attraction out of the town centre and further hit footfall for shops and the market.

Petition organiser Ross Crompton is part of a group which is establishing Dudley Civic Society in a bid to protect landmarks in the town.

Society members are planning to hold a meeting in January to work on their campaign and step up the petition.

Mr Crompton, aged 25, and from Upper Gornal said that work on the petition will gather pace this new year to rally opposition to the move.

"It is good to see this support now," he said. Things have slowed due to the Christmas break but we are looking to pick things back up.

"We will be having a meeting soon to discuss it further."

Organisers presenting the petition are urging the council to: "Stop the proposed closure of our town's historic museum, the sale of the building for redevelopment, and the scattering of its exhibits across the borough."

The museum is known for exhibitions on Dudley-born Manchester United footballer Duncan Edwards and its geological collection, which includes over 15,000 fossil, rock and mineral specimens.

Former council leader Councillor David Sparks said he supported closing the museum, saying it is unsuitable for people in wheelchairs or with significant disabilities.

He said previously: "My view is that it's better moving out to more suitable premises, selling that building and reusing the funds more effectively."

View the petition at you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-dudley-museum-art-gallery