Two Lincolnshire museums saved from closure

Two Lincolnshire museums which were under threat of closure have been saved, but another remains at risk.

Skegness Church Farm Museum and Grantham Museum will now be run with help from the community.

But Stamford Museum is due to close unless an improved bid is put forward to save it.

Lincolnshire County Council withdrew from running the sites because it could no longer afford to maintain them.

'Sustainable plans'

The local authority had been in talks with community groups to hand over the running of the museums to charitable trusts.

Councillors met on Friday to discuss the possibility of museums closing.

Eddy Poll, executive councillor for cultural services, said: "This decision is still subject to democratic process, and can be called-in by the council at any point over the next three working days.

"We are happy to confirm that community groups from Grantham and Church Farm Museums have presented us with what we believe to be sustainable business plans, and will take over the running of the museums from April 2011.

"Unfortunately, the submission for Stamford Museum was not considered viable and we could not give it our approval. We will be making provisions for items to remain on display in the town, but unless an improved plan is put forward it is unlikely that these items will be displayed at Stamford Museum."

Previously campaigners pledged to fight plans to stop funding to the museums.