Berwick Museum Threat - MP calls in Culture Minister

1.51.05pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 18th Sep 2006

Berwick MP Alan Beith has asked the Secretary of State for Culture, Tessa Jowell, to look into proposals from Berwick Council leaders to close down the town's museum.

Alan says

"There is widespread concern that the Berwick Borough Museum, which has its own Burrell Collection as well as items from the town's history, may be closed. To lose it would undermine our tourist potential and our claim to support as one of the great historic towns of Europe.

"A historic town which ignores its history is threatening its own future.

"The Council's Conservative leadership should withdraw their narrow-minded threat to close the museum and instead look for new ways of securing its future, perhaps through a charitable trust which the Council could support.

" I have asked Tessa Jowell, the Culture Secretary, to investigate what is happening, because any threat to museums is a threat to our national cultural heritage."