FULLY A MUSEUM - AND FREEHOLD TOO!
A vehicle emerging with a new coat of paint naturally produces a rush of interest. But sometimes, behind the scenes, other developments occur which are really, really significant!
June saw two pieces of good news which are of great long term importance to the Museum.
Gaining the freehold interest of our site has been an ambition for many years but limited finance has meant that funds previously have been directed to the vehicle collections, the buildings or the site. At last we found ourselves able to fund the freehold purchase and we are pleased to report that negotiations have been successfully completed with Bromsgrove District Council. Readers will realise just how important it is that the land on which our vehicles are kept is now ours - it really is a major step forward.
The trustees have for some time also been working on an application for Museum Registration. This was recently submitted and, on June 13th, it was considered in London by the Registration Panel of Re:source, the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries. We are delighted to report that our Museum was granted Full Status. We pay particular thanks to the West Midlands Regional Museums Council for the assistance received in drawing up the registration submission.
With this comes certain responsibilities. We have to produce an Emergency Plan by December 2002 and basic conservation and museum management standards have to be introduced by the following month. Particularly arduous will be completion of documentation of all museum artefacts by March 2005. Even museums with a small army of paid staff struggle with documentation which covers not only the vehicle exhibits but every other item in the collection, down to the last photograph, and includes noting where they all are! If they are moved, then the new location needs recording. Everything except small items of spares which can be classed as consumables should be included. This, of course, is designed to protect items so kindly donated to museums from ‘going missing’. It is the opportunity for those with a clerical bent who have been looking for a way to help but have felt unable to assist in the restoration effort.
These splendid developments mean that we can look ahead to the future with tremendous confidence. Our land is secured and one of the roles of the museum authorities now embracing us is to advise on the improvement of museum standards to which our attention must now turn.
Several museum buses remain outside while those inside are parked too close together to be viewed properly. Most importantly, there is insufficient space for wheelchairs to pass through during non-event days and this fails the disability legislation which comes into force in 2004. Particularly failing in this respect are our toilets. Top priority, therefore, is a need for more undercover space for our vehicles and spare parts, and toilets. The existing halls are a splendid achievement by those who constructed them with very limited finance but we will have to consider how they can be upgraded, particularly with temperature and humidity control. Stepping outside the structures, the landscaped areas are a testimony to the efforts of Dennis and colleagues but there is plenty of scope to increase the feel of a transport museum. Crich, Carlton Colville and Amberley are amongst those that show us the way to go. Still much to do, therefore, but the future looks good!
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Chapel Lane, Wythall, Worcs B47 6JX
Tel : 01564 826471 e-mail us
A registered educational charity no 507191
