Museum announces new contractor

The previous contractor, Edwin Dysons, went into administration in April.

The confident message given by John Betts, the museum's head of fundraising and publity, at a Bexhill 100 Motoring Club event last month was that negotiations with a new company were nearing completion.

This was confirmed last week, with John saying the new Bexhill Museum will open its doors to the public on July 27.

He said: "Immediately the museum's exhibition and retail fitting out contractor was placed into administration, discussions started between the Society of Bexhill Museums, Rother District Council and Cragg Management as to the way forward. The primary objectives were to select an alternative contractor, preferably without incurring additional costs and without serious delays to the museum's re-opening.

"As a result of the hard work put in by the three parties, the Society is pleased to announce that a new contractor has been appointed, with all of the above objectives achieved."

This new contractor, Id Ess CD Ltd, is the cultural development arm of a larger shopfitting organisation. Their websites claims work is bonded with a triple bank guarantee.

The 1.9million Bexhill Museum Renaissance project began in 2005. A major heritage lottery grant of 0.9million was supplemented by funds from Rother District Council (0.7million) and the Society of Bexhill Museums (250,000).

Cragg Project and Construction Management were hired to oversee the building of a new museum linked to the existing site, and amalgamating three local museums (Bexhill Museum, Costume Museum and the

Heritage Racing Museum).

3 new galleries have also been created.

John said: "Further good news is that the old gallery, beloved by generations of visitors, is being completely redecorated from floor to ceiling.

"The gallery layout will be radically redesigned. The changes will enable many rare items to be exhibited for the first time.

"These are exciting times for everyone involved with Bexhill Museum. The reconstruction project can be compared to a marathon but with many obstacles along the way. Now however, everything is in place for the great day when we can say open the doors."