£30,000 pledge saves museum project

The extension and refurbishment of the Egerton Park building has already received stage one funding totalling 54,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

This has been earmarked for an application using a professional design team appointed in agreement with HLF.

And cabinet has backed calls for the council to pick up the 30,000 funding shortfall required for the project to go ahead.

Half of this money will be spent demolishing the existing Egerton Park toilets and museum offices, and relocating them to the western end of the existing structure.

This change is necessary as the current facilities are located on the old outdoor swimming pool site, which has a history of ground movement.

The other half will be spent making sure the extension - which will be used for display, education, storage and workshops - is built to a standard equable to its neighbouring building.

Cabinet also backed proposals for a revised 60-year lease with Bexhill Museum Association, as part of which the council would retain responsibility for structural repairs on both the existing building and the extension.

The Society of Bexhill Museums would be in charge of non-domestic rates on the premises, as well as non-structural repairs, internal and external decoration, statutory undertakings' charges, and the provision, maintenance and renewal of external signage.

A five-year management agreement would increase the council grant by 4,500 a year to 8,000, in order to cover additional responsibilities of internal and external maintenance and redecoration.

Cllr Stuart Earl said: "Over the years I think there's always been a wish list of things we'd like to do in the town. And the improvements to the museum will put a facility in Bexhill which we can be proud of."