Image: Museum of Cannock Chase (Geoff Pick The Museum of Cannock Chase CC BY-SA 2.0)
Cannock Chase Council weighs closure of museum and theatre to tackle £1.3m budget gap, sparking local consultation.
A museum and theatre in Staffordshire are under threat of closure within the next six months, as the local council looks to solve a budget shortfall of £1.3m in its next budget.
Cannock Chase Council is proposing the closure of the Museum of Cannock Chase and the Prince of Wales Theatre by April 2025, which it said would “ensure a sustainable future for other leisure and wellbeing services in the district.”
The museum, which first opened in 1989, was formerly the site of the Valley Pit, a training pit for young miners. The museum covers the history of the Cannock Chase area, across four galleries. It also hosts a number of temporary exhibitions, some with local artists, throughout the year. It is operated by charity Inspiring Healthy Lifestyles (IHL).
The council’s proposals follow an independent review of leisure, heritage and culture services. It surveyed the condition of the buildings managed by IHL before the recommendation of closure was announced.
The council is now seeking views from locals on the proposed changes. It said in a statement: “Like many councils across the country, we’re facing rising costs and growing demand for services.
“Despite years of careful financial management and savings, the Council is forecasting a budget shortfall of £1.3 million for 2025/26. To address this, we need to review our current services and make some difficult decisions.”
The announcement comes in the same week that Leeds City Council revealed proposals to close its local Abbey House Museum, as part of measures to address a £106.4m savings requirement for 2025/26.
Leeds council weighs ‘pay as you feel’ entry fees and museum closure to cut costs
