Bourne Hall Museum improvements take step forward

Plans to invest in improving the museum connected to the Grade II listed Bourne Hall have been backed unanimously by councillors.

Bourne Hall Museum in Ewell village charts the history of Epsom and Ewell borough, with exhibits ranging from prehistoric times to the modern day.

On Tuesday, Epsom and Ewell Borough Council showed its support for investing in the museum, rather than closing it down or leaving it as it is.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, as much as £250,000 could be put towards regenerating the museum but this will have to be approved by a separate council committee in March.

At Tuesday's meeting of the community and wellbeing committee, councillor Clive Woodbridge said the museum needed to "reflect and be relevant to local communities now and the future".

According to a report presented to this committee, planned improvements include updating displays to make them easier to read and creating interactive exhibits and themed trails which connect the museum with other parts of Bourne Hall.

Reaching out to local schools, community groups and universities with workshops, tours and loan boxes has also been suggested.

During the meeting councillors said closing the museum would cost about £280,000 and could potentially damage the local community.

Should the plans to invest £250,000 over two years be rejected by the strategy and resources committee in two months' time, the museum will continue as it is for now, the report added.

Bourne Hall Museum currently costs the council around £240,000 a year.

Woodbridge said: "Without doubt the museum at Bourne Hall is an important and much valued community asset.

"Over the coming years there will be significant change in the borough, not least with the formation of a new East Surrey unitary authority, so preserving our local stories and heritage for the future has become even more important."

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