Last updated 19:28, Thursday, 27 November 2008

MARYPORT residents are being urged to fight the proposed closure of the town’s maritime museum.

A public meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 9, and organisers are encouraging people in the town to attend.

An informal, hastily arranged meeting on the issue attracted about 40 people to the town library on Monday.

The meeting left Allerdale council heritage officer Adrienne Wallman in no doubt that closure of the museum would be regarded as a disaster for the town.

People told Mrs Wallman of the importance of the town’s maritime link through the Ismay name and its association with the Titanic, which brought people from all over the world to visit Maryport.

One speaker claimed that Maryport Festivals, which was trying to gain possession of the building, would be keen to keep the museum open but had been told by an Allerdale council officer that it would not happen.

In a statement this week, however, an Allerdale council spokesman said that discussions about the museum’s future included possible closure or seeking a partner to take over running the building.

Those at the meeting, including members of the Maryport Heritage Society, said that the museum should stay open because it brought tourists to the town.

Many of its artefacts belonged to townsfolk, and The Wave Centre did not have the space or atmosphere to house them. Entry to the museum was free, while entry to The Wave’s exhibitions cost money.

The public meeting will be held at St Mary’s Church from 7.30pm on Tuesday, December 9.