Lowewood Museum set to avoid closure

Lowewood Museum set to avoid closure as Broxbourne Council identify viable solution to keep the facility up and running for the community.

After several months of searching for possible solutions to continue the museum service at Lowewood Museum, the Council, in conjunction with the Friends of Lowewood Museum, has identified a viable solution to keep the facility up and running.

It was announced in December 2019 that Broxbourne Council could not commit to the additional funding required to run Lowewood Museum, and that the museum would close in June 2020. However, following a search for an alternative solution, the Council has entered into negotiations to create and pay for a trust which will enable a team of volunteers to run the service.

The trust will be established with the support of the Friends of Lowewood Museum, a registered charity founded in June 1987. The work of volunteers will be an invaluable and crucial element to the running of the service, as has been the case in the past. Members of the public can contact enquiry@broxbourne.gov.uk should they be interested in supporting Lowewood Museum for the community and generations to come.

David Dent, Committee Member of The Friends of Lowewood Museum, said: “I am pleased to work with the Borough Council to establish a trust to keep the museum going.  I hope that we can attract a wide variety of volunteers to help us in this demanding task.”

The Leader of Broxbourne Council, Councillor Lewis Cocking, said: “I am extremely pleased that a viable solution to keep the museum running has been identified. The Council is conscious that the possibility of the museum closing would have been a big loss for residents and the Borough at large.

I am excited about the future of the museum and the knowledge it will continue to provide for generations to come; and I have full confidence that the Trust, once established, will in time be able to deliver the quality of service we have seen Epping Forest District Council deliver in past years.

I would urge people wishing to volunteer to support this service to contact the Council to register their interest.”

For further news about Lowewood Museum, and to find out more about the activities and exhibitions held at the facility, please visit www.broxbourne.gov.uk/Lowewood.

Published: 25th February 2020