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Stockport Council; Museums & Cultural Attractions Consultation‏

Looks like we are still in with a shout:

 

Dear Colleague

You may be aware that Stockport Council recently carried out consultation with  customers and other stakeholders on Museums & Cultural Attractions in Stockport with a view to achieving budget savings of £188,000 over the next two years.  We are grateful to all those who took the time to take part in this exercise.  The original proposals were:

1.      To reduce visitor opening hours at Stockport Art Gallery to Saturday and Sunday 1pm-5pm.

2.      To reduce opening hours at Stockport Tourist Information Centre to Tuesday – Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 11am-5pm. 

3.      To review the range of the services offered at Stockport Tourist Information Centre to create a single customer service point for tourist information, Stockport Market and Staircase House/Stockport Story Museum.

4.      To relocate museum exhibits from the Vernon Park Museum building and redisplay key items to create wider access.

5.      To improve the overall visitor offer at Air Raid Shelters, Hatworks, Staircase House/Stockport Story Museum and Bramall Hall.

Public consultation took place through meetings with stakeholders and a questionnaire.  We also received feedback on the proposals in other ways, including stakeholder meetings, petitions and correspondence.

The consultation feedback has now been analysed and reviewed and copies of the consultation report are available upon request.  The consultation feedback resulted in a slightly amended proposal being sent to the Council’s Executive for approval on Monday night (17th December).  I can now confirm that Executive have given their approval for this amended proposal to proceed.  This will result in the following changes to service provision:

 

Stockport Art Gallery & War Memorial:  Following staff and customer feedback and positive discussions with stakeholders, including SK Arts and Stockport College, the Council proposes to delay proposed changes to the opening hours of Stockport Art Gallery & War Memorial until 1st October 2013.   This will allow for alternative management arrangements and income generation opportunities to be explored more fully.  If sustainable arrangements, which generate sufficient income to cover front of house staffing costs, can be agreed by 31st March 2013, the proposal will be withdrawn.  If this is not possible, the proposed new weekend only opening hours will take effect from 1st October 2013.  We will be contacting key stakeholders, who have expressed an interest in being part of a future solution for the Art Gallery & War Memorial, early in 2013 to progress discussions.

 

Tourist Information Centre:  Proposals to create a merged service point for tourist information, Stockport Story/Staircase House Museum and Stockport Market will proceed as per the proposal.  The timing of implementation will be revised from the original plans.  It is currently anticipated that the TIC and Museum reception will merge from 1st April 2013 and that the market front of house operation will be incorporated into the merged service point from 1st October  2013.  The revised opening hours will also take effect from 1st October 2013.

 

Vernon Park Museum: Proposals to relocate museum objects from Vernon Park Museum building will proceed as previously proposed from January 2013.  A management agreement will be developed with Pure Innovations for the future occupation and use of the building.  The café will continue to operate as presently.

 

Museum Improvements:  Work will proceed to improve the overall offer at Air Raid Shelters, Hatworks, Staircase House/Stockport Story Museum and Bramall Hall with a view to improving the visitor experience and income generation from the sites.

If you have any queries about any of the above, please do not hesitate to contact me.

I would like to thank you once again for your feedback and take this opportunity to wish you wish you a pleasant Christmas and happy New Year.

Museums

◄ Victory at Christmas - (December 2012 Collage Poem)

Recycled Prophesies (January 2013 Collage Poem) ►

Comments

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Julian (Admin)

Tue 15th Jan 2013 14:02

Sorry to have missed it but events conspired. Interesting times. Damn those Chinese!

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Nigel Astell

Tue 15th Jan 2013 13:14

I Shot The Sheriff

Wanted dead
or alive
saloon drunk
the deputy
threw me
in jail.

Hanged high
stirrups clicking
till neck
slowly snapped
body left
to rot.

Remains marked
wooden cross
rustler thief
law killer
top of
Dodge hill.





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dorinda macdowell

Tue 15th Jan 2013 09:46

What a great meeting last night: WOL in Stockport just gets better and better...............

John, I do think it might be worth pursuing the Edgeley link here with the US one! - yes, I know, as I said, a long shot...........but perhaps worth a thought, especially bearing in mind that WOL are planning a wider group than just here in Britain...........could that all be tied up together? Anyway, do have a think and I won't DODGE the issue if help is needed along those lines (my sad attempt to make a play on words ie: Dodge Hill...........hmm.............)

OK I'm going I'm going.........love to all....D.

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Nigel Astell

Thu 10th Jan 2013 15:46

Another strong link perhaps to Stockport

You can buy dodg'y motor cars here too.

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dorinda macdowell

Wed 9th Jan 2013 08:33

Me again! - Ian (who has all sorts of weird and wonderful information stored in his brain!) said that it was the Dodge family who started the Dodge Motor Car Company (don't know how that would help us though!)

D. x

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dorinda macdowell

Wed 9th Jan 2013 07:45

Yes, I do believe Dodge City was founded by Stockport people (I think the Dodge family) - hence 'Dodge Hill', a Stockport road.........

Y'all have a good day now (I am practising my American accent.......hmmm...............)

Love, D.

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Nigel Astell

Tue 8th Jan 2013 11:27

Dodge City was a gambling western town for gunslingers and law breakers - - -

I can see the strong link to Stockport.

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Nigel Astell

Tue 8th Jan 2013 11:20

Yanks for that Dorinda

A long shot could work out to be a good shot

See you all at the next meeting on January 14th

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John F Keane

Tue 8th Jan 2013 11:11

Wasn't Dodge City founded by people from Stockport? Just a thought...

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dorinda macdowell

Sat 5th Jan 2013 16:21

This is a bit of a long-shot (literally, in terms of miles!), but an article in the local Stockport freesheet was all about a town called Edgeley in North Dakota,USA, being linked with our own Edgeley (just down the road from our beloved Art Gallery)...........and I wondered, since the local council here seem keen to forge links with our American cousins, whether we might find this of benefit to us at Stockport WOL??? - if nothing else, it might raise the profile of the Art Gallery (and what activities go on there) to people in general?......
Yes, I know, a long shot..............but is it worth pursuing?.........
Over to all of you! - the article is on page 14 of the freesheet................if you don't have it to hand, I can bring my copy to our next meeting, if you would like me to!
Until our next meeting, then, hope you all had a great Christmas and new year..........and hope that Maggie is feeling much better now!...
Happy writing/reading!!! - love from D,x

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dorinda macdowell

Wed 2nd Jan 2013 16:45

Good news indeed! - thank you for this, John!
Dorinda

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John F Keane

Wed 2nd Jan 2013 10:56

*If sustainable arrangements, which generate sufficient income to cover front of house staffing costs, can be agreed by 31st March 2013, the proposal will be withdrawn. If this is not possible, the proposed new weekend only opening hours will take effect from 1st October 2013.*

I wonder how we might contribute to the 'sustainable arrangements'?

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Nigel Astell

Tue 1st Jan 2013 17:27

This is good news for Stockport WOL

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