St Albans museum plans moving ahead

TURNING the Town Hall into St Albans’ new museum has been met with “solid” and positive support, council-led research suggests.

St Albans district council will be using the findings, which reflect local views, to support their application for Heritage Lottery Funding to enable the Town Hall to become a museum in place of the existing museum in Hatfield Road.

Participants in the research indicated they would like a museum in a central location which would become a focal point for community life and culture.

They also want a site which is participatory and social and will host exhibits relating to the history of the city and its people including famous residents, as well as a museum caf�.

Cllr Mike Wakely, portfolio holder for sports, leisure and heritage, confirmed they had lodged the fund bid to “create a wonderful cultural asset in our historic city centre.”

He added: “I am very pleased to have the support of the Chamber of Commerce, the Battlefield Trust, the Spencer Estate, the Gorhambury Estate and The Roman Theatre of Verulamium to develop this new museum and gallery.

“We are keen to involve museum visitors, residents and key cultural organisations in developing the interpretive strategy and activity programmes.”