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Fury as blame being laid at door of voluntary group for museum closure

Falconer Museum in Forres
Falconer Museum in Forres

A group of volunteers have hit out at Moray Council after feeling blamed for a museum closure.

The Friends of the Falconer Museum in Forres said it was furious that the museum is to be closed after cash-strapped Moray Council withdrew funding  – and asked the group to take on the running of the museum.

In budget cuts made in February 2018 the museum lost its £80,000 of funding.

The museum holds the nationally important collection of naturalist Hugh Falconer who was a contemporary of Charles Darwin.

Chairman of the Friends group Dr John Barrett said he feels the blame for the closure of the museum is now being placed at the door of the volunteers.

He said: “We feel as the council is shifting blame for the closure onto us, because we will not keep the museum open. We are a group of volunteers who raise money to support and highlight the museum – we do not have the time or ability to run it full time.

“In the transfer of the museum to Moray Council the title deeds state that the museum will be run by the local authority.

“We have been told by the council’s lawyers that unless we are willing to take the matter to court, then the museum will close at the end of October – never to open again.

“We feel the legal obligation of the transfer in 1996 gave the council a property of great value. But it doesn’t seem that way,  and they have now decided that they will close it – rather than realise its worth.

“The museum, and the agreement the council signed to keep it open, is as important as the statutory services the council provides. It is an offence to close the museum.”

A Moray Council spokeswoman said: “The Falconer Trust transferred ownership of the museum to the council in 1996.  At the same time the council signed an agreement with the remaining trustees, that the council would assume responsibility for the management, administration and financing of the museum, but nowhere does the agreement state that the museum must remain open and functioning – that is a matter for the council to decide.

“A report is expected to be presented to members of the policy and resources Committee on October 29.”

A meeting to discuss the closure is being held on October 22 at the museum in Tollbooth Street at 7pm.