More funding for museum

Rother cabinet approved a funding gap of 297,208 on the project to be paid for from an underspend on the council's capital programme.

But members voiced concerns about giving more money to the scheme in future.

They were particularly worried about the day-to-day revenue costs of the museum.

The problem over building costs occurred after tenders by contractors had come in over budget.

A contractor will now be appointed at a cost of 1,331,465

The new building, in Egerton Park, will extend the present museum and incorporate the costume museum, currently in Old Town, and house displays on Bexhill's motoring heritage.

Cllr Robin Patten said: "There is no question of anybody turning down this opportunity, but one does have serious problems about what the bottom line is going to be.

"It would be reassuring to have a concrete, copper bottom base to know this is as far as it goes with the funding coming from Rother. It seems the goal posts are always being moved a little bit."

Non-cabinet member Cllr Keith Standring told members although he supported the museum he didn't want Rother, "taking money from one pocket and putting it in this pocket."

Cllr Standring said more could be made out of Bexhill's motoring history and suggested an approach to Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

He said: "He may look on this quite favourably and even purchase the space to have a proper motor racing museum."

Rother leader Cllr Carl Maynard said the revenue funding was 'clearly an issue' but believed the emphasis was on the museum to fund day-to-day operations itself.

He suggested the possibility of commercial sponsorship, particularly on the motoring heritage side of the project.

Rother head of amenities, Madeleine Gorman, told members the museum would seek to solve problems with revenue funding, should they occur, by first looking at ticketing and footfall, then approaching external backers. Going back to Rother would be a third and final option.

Peter Fairhurst, chief executive of the Society of Bexhill Museums, told cabinet he expected the museum to be a successful attraction.

He said a cheque had already arrived from the US to assist with the rebuilding of a 1956 Elva motor car made in Bexhill, hopefully "the first of many."

He said: "We are thinking of visitors coming from America and putting Bexhill in their itinery. People are keen to come to the museum.

"I don't know if you realise this, but Bexhill Museum has got the best archive of documents on the slave trade - the best in the world and very important.

"Provided the museum is promoted properly and people learn about it they will come. We are very confident we won't be coming back to the council and saying, 'we can't afford to run it this week and could you help us out again?'

"We should have an excellent facility people will want to look at, want to talk about and will help with the regeneration of Bexhill."