LOCAL history enthusiasts worried about the future of The Willis Museum in Basingstoke are to seek a meeting with Stephen Locke, the director of Hampshire County Council's museums service.

This week The Gazette and its sister paper The Basingstoke Extra have reported how county recreation and heritage chiefs want to include The Willis Museum in a series of big changes to library and museum services in Basingstoke.

Their aim is to appeal to more people - especially young ones.

An idea being put forward by county officers is for some of The Willis Museum exhibits to be displayed in a refurbished town centre library as part of a new multi-media Discovery Centre. Other exhibits might be moved to the nearby Milestones museum which is also to be the focus of a new programme of attention-grabbing events.

A meeting of officers will take place in the library this afternoon to discuss the viability of the controversial plans.

The Willis Museum building, which is the former town hall built in 1832, could become an art gallery or even an educational facility. However, county council staff insist they have not made their minds up yet and will consult with the public.

Alan Roach, chairman of The Friends of the Willis Museum, told The Gazette a delegation is seeking to meet Mr Locke, including Bill Fergie, the former planning director at Basingstoke, and Derek Wren, who is a local historian and retired architect.

Mr Roach said: "It seems they have had the idea for a Discovery Centre for some time. We are not against the concept. What we are against is the breaking-up of The Willis Museum."

He said The Friends would be interested if there was a space available for the whole museum collection to be kept together.

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