Christchurch's Museum of Electricity closes its doors (From Thisisdorset)
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Christchurch's Museum of Electricity closes its doors
5:28pm Monday 3rd December 2012 in News By Julie Magee
Christchurch's Museum of Electricity closes its doors
THE Museum of Electricity in Christchurch has closed “indefinitely” with nine members of staff losing their jobs.
An independent review found that the Bargates museum, set in an Edwardian power station, does not fulfil its visitor needs and has restricted disabled access.
Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), which funds the museum, dedicated to the history of electricity, said it could not afford the necessary "seven figure sum" redevelopment works.
Nine paid members of staff have been made redundant and several volunteers have also lost their posts.
The museum, which closes between the end of September and Easter, will not reopen in the spring as planned.
SSE spokesman Julian Reeves said the company was discussing redeployment opportunities with staff members and would continue to provide an education service for schools and colleges.
Comments(41)
aerolover
says...
5:44pm Mon 3 Dec 12
Loved the old cookers, cleaners and the stone coffin.
I wonder what will happen to all the display items?
spiderpig
says...
6:05pm Mon 3 Dec 12
High Treason
says...
6:30pm Mon 3 Dec 12
rebelred
says...
6:45pm Mon 3 Dec 12
Phixer
says...
7:03pm Mon 3 Dec 12
High Treason wrote:I think that was the main problem, not widely advertised but a great museum.
Never knew it existed. Perhaps the tourism department at Christchurch town hall never knew it existed.
muscliffman
says...
7:28pm Mon 3 Dec 12
This Company's greed for profit has been shown to know no bounds, so chucking a bit of their own heritage on the bonfire to make a few extra quid is not a surprise. Especially when compared to what their energy charges are doing to the old and vulnerable.
A shame to those us for whom money is not our only interest.
Bournefre
says...
7:45pm Mon 3 Dec 12
It wasn't just a good experience for kids, it was an interesting all-weather attraction for people of all ages - something many Echo readers want to see more of.
Just because it may have been difficult to get a wheelchair upstairs shouldn't mean the attraction needs to be ruined for everyone else; by that logic Christchurch Priory should be shut down because it's difficult to get a wheelchair up the tower steps.
fantasanta
says...
8:27pm Mon 3 Dec 12
these big companies are not really owned by anyone with an interest in their history , if it doesnt make money ,they bin it and heres a victim by the look of it
Crank
says...
8:34pm Mon 3 Dec 12
dvdr
says...
9:31pm Mon 3 Dec 12
But, as it is said, money talks, and seemingly in this case it shouts. Big business does not care who gets hurt or loses out, but I wish it did. Black mark to SSE.
Bournefre
says...
10:27pm Mon 3 Dec 12
http://www.activism.
com/en_GB/petition/s
ave-southern-electri
c-museum-of-electric
ity/40995
Buddles
says...
10:40pm Mon 3 Dec 12
Phixer wrote:I've never heard of it either. I would have loved to have seen it.
High Treason wrote:I think that was the main problem, not widely advertised but a great museum.
Never knew it existed. Perhaps the tourism department at Christchurch town hall never knew it existed.
What a shame....through lack of promotion, many suffer.
reeve007
says...
11:13pm Mon 3 Dec 12
Have had reports back to say how much they enjoyed their visits.
It is a shame that it has closed, it is part of our heritage and should be maintained
GadgetMaster
says...
11:48pm Mon 3 Dec 12
GadgetMaster
says...
11:48pm Mon 3 Dec 12
oneshortleg
says...
7:08am Tue 4 Dec 12
muscliffman wrote:Actually this musuem was free, yes free you could make a donation if you wanted.
No profit in it, at least be honest with us and don't waffle rubbish about access and the like.
This Company's greed for profit has been shown to know no bounds, so chucking a bit of their own heritage on the bonfire to make a few extra quid is not a surprise. Especially when compared to what their energy charges are doing to the old and vulnerable.
A shame to those us for whom money is not our only interest.
oneshortleg
says...
7:12am Tue 4 Dec 12
Bournefre
says...
7:20am Tue 4 Dec 12
http://www.activism.
com/en_GB/petition/s
ave-southern-electri
c-museum-of-electric
ity/40995
fantasanta
says...
8:01am Tue 4 Dec 12
tinkerten
says...
8:23am Tue 4 Dec 12
Local council should try to find someone to operate it.
I just signed the petition to keep it at:
You can help by signing the online petition to save it:
http://www.activism.
com/en_GB/petition/s
ave-southern-electri
c-museum-of-electric
ity/40995
jinglebell
says...
9:55am Tue 4 Dec 12
Education is about so much more than just being in the classroom; this was a marvellous museum but I agree it was not advertised and with no entry or other way to make an income it could not be sustained.
It needs a business plan to work out how it can become financially viable....so why not ask JP to do this?
Crank
says...
10:06am Tue 4 Dec 12
jinglebell wrote:Can you take this up, Jinglebell?
Just seen that JP Morgan has given £1 million to aid poor children achieve in Bournemouth. Any chance of asking them for a business plan to ensure the museum stays open and becomes financially viable and some initially funds?
Education is about so much more than just being in the classroom; this was a marvellous museum but I agree it was not advertised and with no entry or other way to make an income it could not be sustained.
It needs a business plan to work out how it can become financially viable....so why not ask JP to do this?
The Seasider
says...
11:06am Tue 4 Dec 12
1. From BBC website (14 Nov 2012 item): "SSE sees half-year profits rise 38.3%
SSE chairman Lord Smith of Kelvin said that higher profits meant more jobs and tax revenues.
The company made £397.5m in the six months to the end of September, compared with £287.4m in the same period last year.
SSE, in line with other major energy suppliers, put up its domestic gas and electricity prices by an average of 9% one month ago."
2. Perhaps a Christchurch MP could take this up with Lord Smith. Hugely profitable SSE claiming they cant afford to keep it open. Utter rubbish. I bet the board are not even aware such a museum is being closed.
3. If it is saved. ADVERTISE IT! How is anybody supposed to know such a thing exists! Oh and charge a modest entry fee eg. £2 entry, £1 for children.
Good luck, Im sure with a bit of effort, Christchurch councillors and MP could persuade a rethink by SSE on closure and perhaps agree a 3-5 year plan to promote it and see if it becomes viable.
The Liberal
says...
11:17am Tue 4 Dec 12
Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), which funds the museum, dedicated to the history of electricity, said it could not afford the necessary "seven figure sum" redevelopment works.
Is this the same SSE that saw first-half-of-year profits soar to £397.5 million and raised its dividend to shareholders by 5%?
jinglebell
says...
11:54am Tue 4 Dec 12
The Seasider wrote:Didn't know this....well in that case, SSE can legally re-establish the museum as a registered charity and make yearly donations to fund the charity, and get tax relief. With those kind of profits, I'm sure they would be glad of a way of getting some tax relief!
Very sad to hear news of closure. But a few points:
1. From BBC website (14 Nov 2012 item): "SSE sees half-year profits rise 38.3%
SSE chairman Lord Smith of Kelvin said that higher profits meant more jobs and tax revenues.
The company made £397.5m in the six months to the end of September, compared with £287.4m in the same period last year.
SSE, in line with other major energy suppliers, put up its domestic gas and electricity prices by an average of 9% one month ago."
2. Perhaps a Christchurch MP could take this up with Lord Smith. Hugely profitable SSE claiming they cant afford to keep it open. Utter rubbish. I bet the board are not even aware such a museum is being closed.
3. If it is saved. ADVERTISE IT! How is anybody supposed to know such a thing exists! Oh and charge a modest entry fee eg. £2 entry, £1 for children.
Good luck, Im sure with a bit of effort, Christchurch councillors and MP could persuade a rethink by SSE on closure and perhaps agree a 3-5 year plan to promote it and see if it becomes viable.
SSE can also be the ones to come up with a sounder business plan to ensure long term financial stability and also pay for some advertising.
Since they have made such substantial profits, it would be far more palatable if some of those profits were used to provide an educational environment, which the museum is.
Having said all that, its a **** disgrace that SSE are making so much profit on the backs of so many people struggling to pay bills and produce that profit. Many elderly people's reaction to high charges to sit in the cold and die. Age Concern estimates deaths in the UK at 30,000 a year.
Just as long as the share-holders get some money that's ok ....no, not ok ....
The exploitation of the poor to the benefit of the rich is disgraceful.
liebert
says...
12:22pm Tue 4 Dec 12
Any chance of an open week- end soon, so we can go and have a look??
URGENT!!
hadvar
says...
12:30pm Tue 4 Dec 12
Crank
says...
12:41pm Tue 4 Dec 12
Jo Ikarus
says...
1:27pm Tue 4 Dec 12
Rodney Trotter
says...
2:03pm Tue 4 Dec 12
Bournefre wrote:I would if the link worked, do you have another one please
Please sign the petition to keep it open:
http://www.activism.
com/en_GB/petition/s
ave-southern-electri
c-museum-of-electric
ity/40995
speedy231278
says...
2:06pm Tue 4 Dec 12
com/en_GB/petition/s
ave-southern-electri
c-museum-of-electric
ity/40995
Rodney Trotter
says...
2:11pm Tue 4 Dec 12
jinglebell wrote:I agree, but that would mean the SSE would have to care....... and by the looks they don’t give a hoot! And I’m guessing if they did it would have to generate a big profit.
The Seasider wrote:Didn't know this....well in that case, SSE can legally re-establish the museum as a registered charity and make yearly donations to fund the charity, and get tax relief. With those kind of profits, I'm sure they would be glad of a way of getting some tax relief!
Very sad to hear news of closure. But a few points:
1. From BBC website (14 Nov 2012 item): "SSE sees half-year profits rise 38.3%
SSE chairman Lord Smith of Kelvin said that higher profits meant more jobs and tax revenues.
The company made £397.5m in the six months to the end of September, compared with £287.4m in the same period last year.
SSE, in line with other major energy suppliers, put up its domestic gas and electricity prices by an average of 9% one month ago."
2. Perhaps a Christchurch MP could take this up with Lord Smith. Hugely profitable SSE claiming they cant afford to keep it open. Utter rubbish. I bet the board are not even aware such a museum is being closed.
3. If it is saved. ADVERTISE IT! How is anybody supposed to know such a thing exists! Oh and charge a modest entry fee eg. £2 entry, £1 for children.
Good luck, Im sure with a bit of effort, Christchurch councillors and MP could persuade a rethink by SSE on closure and perhaps agree a 3-5 year plan to promote it and see if it becomes viable.
SSE can also be the ones to come up with a sounder business plan to ensure long term financial stability and also pay for some advertising.
Since they have made such substantial profits, it would be far more palatable if some of those profits were used to provide an educational environment, which the museum is.
Having said all that, its a **** disgrace that SSE are making so much profit on the backs of so many people struggling to pay bills and produce that profit. Many elderly people's reaction to high charges to sit in the cold and die. Age Concern estimates deaths in the UK at 30,000 a year.
Just as long as the share-holders get some money that's ok ....no, not ok ....
The exploitation of the poor to the benefit of the rich is disgraceful.
stevobath
says...
2:13pm Tue 4 Dec 12
Bournefre wrote:Thats just one aspect of the Priory.So people only go there to go up the tower?
If they'd wanted it to be profitable they would have charged an admission fee instead of making it free for everyone.
It wasn't just a good experience for kids, it was an interesting all-weather attraction for people of all ages - something many Echo readers want to see more of.
Just because it may have been difficult to get a wheelchair upstairs shouldn't mean the attraction needs to be ruined for everyone else; by that logic Christchurch Priory should be shut down because it's difficult to get a wheelchair up the tower steps.
The reason they closed was they couldnt afford the extortionate electric bills!
Bournefre
says...
6:52pm Tue 4 Dec 12
Rodney Trotter wrote:I think you have to copy and paste each line consecutively I'm afraid.
Bournefre wrote:I would if the link worked, do you have another one please
Please sign the petition to keep it open:
http://www.activism.
com/en_GB/petition/s
ave-southern-electri
c-museum-of-electric
ity/40995
Failing that if you go to http://www.activism.
com and type 'museum of electricity' into the search box it should take you to the petition.
50 signatures in under 24 hours has to be a sign that there is interest in keeping the museum open; many referred from the Institution of Engineering and Technology (previously the IEE) forum.
themummy
says...
7:20pm Tue 4 Dec 12
muscliffman
says...
9:30pm Tue 4 Dec 12
oneshortleg wrote:Sorry, but no idea what you mean here. I know it was free to go in.
muscliffman wrote:Actually this musuem was free, yes free you could make a donation if you wanted.
No profit in it, at least be honest with us and don't waffle rubbish about access and the like.
This Company's greed for profit has been shown to know no bounds, so chucking a bit of their own heritage on the bonfire to make a few extra quid is not a surprise. Especially when compared to what their energy charges are doing to the old and vulnerable.
A shame to those us for whom money is not our only interest.
The point I made is that it has been closed beciase it does not make money for the Company - end off.
Even a realistic admission charge would still not remedy the Company's profit driven attitude as it would still not cover costs.
pinkcarlady
says...
5:25am Wed 5 Dec 12
Crank
says...
11:36am Wed 5 Dec 12
The research undertaken indicated that we would have to invest a considerable capital sum to convert the Museum to a modern educational facility, including making considerable improvements to the access arrangements for people with physical disabilities.
The Museum is housed in a Victorian building that once housed a Power Station and as it is a listed building this imposes restrictions on alterations that can be made to the exterior of the building.
On balance, therefore, we have reached the conclusion that a Museum is not the most effective way in which to educate people about the energy sector, and we want to explore alternative options for providing an education resource, either at Christchurch or at another site in the south of England.
I hope this explanation helps to clarify the situation. Thanks, Holly.
AND MY REPLY:No - you've just made it worse. This is just PR. For a start, the building itself is not Victorian but Edwardian, and is an exhibit in its own right, generating the power for the 1905 tram lines. And listed buildings are not expected to meet disability access requirements if it cannot be done without altering the building adversely. Those regulations have been in place many years, but only recently do they appear to be seen as a problem - a convenient problem. I took my late father there in a wheelchair and the curator offered to bring things down from upstairs to show him. The building does not need 'converting to a modern facility': its charm lies in its incredible setting, kts hands-on collections, and its presentation, which was just perfect. Nothing, absolutely nothing, could even begin to match what this museum has. And to talk about 'the energy sector' as its primary educational role is utter nonsense: it contains items of historic interest, THINGS, which we used to have, from different periods to show how they evolved, and lost of them, eg the vacuum cleaners and the clocking-in machine, had no power source at all except muscle power. You could make this pay, if that's what you must have despite your huge profits (greatly increased this year), by a reasonable admission charge. Most of the staff were enthusiastic volunteers. It has a shop, which earned money. Have you not thought what it will do to our town and region's tourist economy? You've let us all down so badly, betrayed the generous spirit of those who gifted items and those who rescued or restored items to go in it. Shame on you, shame. You are being pilloried in the local press: have you thought what this philistine move will do to your electricity sales? Do we have to start a campaign not to buy energy from your company?
Hollers
says...
12:40pm Wed 5 Dec 12
fantasanta wrote:I agree. I'm sure that in instances like this disabled people would not feel they were being discriminated against. New or redesigned buildings should obviously cater for the disabled but surely nobody expects old heritage buildings to be made 'disabled friendly' at huge cost, especially one that has free admission and as such restricted finances.
i think we need to concede sometimes that some of the historic buildings are not viable for the disabled ,not to exclude them ,its just the practicality of modifying some of these places , its not just entrances and stairways but toilets and handrails and then facilities for the deaf and blind . once you go that route it has to be for everyone these big companies are not really owned by anyone with an interest in their history , if it doesnt make money ,they bin it and heres a victim by the look of it
Another case of corporations making decisions due to the fear of being branded as un-PC.
spooki
says...
2:05pm Wed 5 Dec 12
pugs0404 says...
5:42pm Mon 3 Dec 12