Hopes that Locomotion: The National Railway Museum at Shildon, will be saved from closure have been raised, after the Department for Culture, Media and Sport struck a deal with the Treasury.
It is now thought that cultural facilities will only lose 5% of their budget as opposed to the original 10% suggested, and museums and galleries will be allowed to borrow up to £40m a year to invest in future growth.
However, full details of the deal are yet to be disclosed, and therefore there is still a chance that the Shildon museum may close, having been placed into a battle for survival with its sister in Bradford and the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester.
Helen Goodman, MP for Bishop Auckland and Shadow Minister for Culture, Media and Sport said of the proposed cuts, “I am appalled at the threat to Locomotion museum. Shildon was the cradle of the railways. The original Sans Pareil built by Timothy Hackworth in 1829 is on display and the museum renovates engines from across the world.
“Last year 200,000 people enjoyed the visit to Shildon. 100 young people received NVQ training and 84 jobs were generated. Locomotion has contracts with 90 companies in the North East and in total generated £6.6 million income in the region from a £300,000 grant from the Science museum.
“It would be madness to close the museum. Railways made Britain great not opera. I don’t know what this government is thinking!”
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
