Captain Cook museum closure would be a 'tragedy'

Closing the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum is among cost-saving measures proposed by Middlesbrough Council

The closure of a hometown museum dedicated to British explorer James Cook would be a "tragedy", campaigners warn.

Middlesbrough Council has proposed shutting the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum, or handing responsibility over to another operator, as part of efforts to save millions of pounds and avoid bankruptcy.

More than 3,500 people have signed a petition calling on the local authority to drop its plan.

A public consultation on the budget proposals runs until 18 January.

The museum opened in 1978 and has about 5,300 visitors annually, according to the council. It believes closing it would save £345,000 over two years.

If the building in Stewart Park was to shut, artefacts would be moved to the Dorman Museum at Albert Park, which has more than 80,000 visitors each year.

'Critical'

Martin Peagram, chairman of the Captain Cook Birthplace Trust which launched the petition, told BBC Tees the museum "has got to survive in some way".

"In 2028, it's the 300th anniversary of the birth of possibly the most famous person to come from this area. He's internationally renowned.

"We all know councils are under pressure with budgets [but] the Captain Cook Birthplace Trust regard this [proposal] as a tragedy.

"Thousands of schoolchildren have been through there over the years, learning about Captain Cook and about countries around the world.

"We know the issues the council face are real, but the museum is critical for people's perceptions of Middlesbrough and the commercial, cultural and educational opportunities it brings."

'Greatest navigator'

Mr Peagram called for the museum to be included in a tourism trail linking other notable Cook sites in the area, adding it was "essential" to "understand Cook in the context of his time".

"At that time the world was expanding. Britain was a leading maritime nation and was looking to find countries where it could exploit resources. That was Empire building.

"He is without doubt the greatest navigator the world has ever seen. He mapped and charted coastlines and countries in the Pacific and North America."

'Tough choices'

The council announced plans late last year to sell off a number of assets as it looks to save £14m.

Labour mayor Chris Cooke said the authority would "have to take tough choices in the short term in order to save our services in the long term", and it could see the equivalent of 75 full-time jobs being lost.

Plans under consideration include raising council tax by 4.99%, introducing fortnightly waste collections and charging for green waste collections.

Four events are being held in the town to allow residents to give their views.

People can also leave their feedback online.

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