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Three dailies in bid to save local museums from axe

Three regional dailies have launched campaigns to save popular museums in their patches after it emerged they could be closed.

It was revealed this week that the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, the National Railway Museum in York or the National Media Museum in Bradford could face closure because of a deficit facing the Science Museum Group, which owns them.

Following the news, the Manchester Evening News,The Press in York and Bradford’s Telegraph & Argus have each launched campaigns to save the museum on its patch.

The titles have launched petitions for readers to sign and the MEN’s gained support from more than 26,000 people in just a few days.One of the three visitor attractions could face closure because of the prospect of a further 10pc cut in funding in the government’s spending review this month.

Ian Blatchford, director of the Science Museum Group, said this would mean that one of the northern museums would “almost certainly have to close” and there would also be cuts made at London’s Science Museum.

Press news editor Gavin Aitchison told HTFP: “The National Railway Museum is famous not only in York but around the world, and news of its possible closure has come as a huge shock.

“Closure of the museum would rob York of a tremendous cultural and educational asset and we are determined to do all we can to help save the museum.

“The campaign has already won widespread support and we will be stepping up the battle over the coming days and weeks.”

A comment piece in the T&A, said: “If Government spending is cut by ten per cent, then the Science Museum Group says it will close one of its three museums in the north.

“Which is why the Telegraph & Argus is today launching its campaign to keep our iconic museum in the city, and calls on all readers to sign our petition and show your support.

“Since opening 30 years ago, the museum has become an integral part of Bradford, helping us achieve City of Film status and hosting international events like the film festival.

“It is hard for people from outside the district to understand exactly how important the museum is to the people of our city; it is an ego boost to have such an internationally-recognised attraction here, and it has great significance for many people.”

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  • June 10, 2013 at 1:45 pm
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    everyonethinks the only place in this country is the south but i lived in soton for 25 years and in blakpool for 20+years stop stripping the north of all its museums its is disgraceful

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