TRANSFORMING St Albans Town Hall into a new city museum has come one step closer after a funding strategy was agreed last week.

But it means that active fundraising will have to take place to make up a shortfall in funding.

The district council wants to redevelop the Town Hall, a Grade II listed building, into a new museum, basement gallery and visitor information centre.

It will replace the Museum of St Albans in Hatfield Road which is constrained in its current building and location and faces problems including poor access, the quality of gallery space and the display and storage of the collection.

The Town Hall with its central location would be a heritage and cultural hub with close proximity to other attractions such as the Abbey.

Cabinet agreed last week to include a £1.75m contribution from the council towards the £6.75m project. A bid for £3 million of the project funding has been submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

In addition, £500,000 in funding will come from other identified sources including Section 106 agreements whereby developers granted planning permission are required to pay towards infrastructure and community projects.

The plan is to fundraise to raise the remaining £1.5m. The council is working with the St Albans Museums and Galleries Trust on an action plan to amass the required funds.

The trust will set up a fundraising committee to organise events for the new museum and gallery and help develop support from the Friends of the Museum. Approaches will also be made to charitable trusts and foundations, high-net-worth individuals and potential corporate sponsors for donations.

Cllr Mike Wakely, the council’s portfolio holder for sports, leisure and heritage, said: “A clear funding strategy is in place to turn the old Town Hall into a wonderful new museum and gallery.

“This is an exciting time for St Albans Museums and I urge anyone interested in helping make these plans become a reality to come forward.

“Not only do we need monetary donations, we also need people to help organise fundraising events and to provide support in other ways.”

For information about contributing to the project, contact stalbansmgtrust@hotmail.co.uk or call 01727 819558.