Shropshire Archives to consult on reductions in opening hours

Following a budget and staffing review, Shropshire Council’s Shropshire Archives service is consulting the public on reductions to opening hours.

The consultation provides three different options, all for versions of opening a total of 15 hours a week, a reduction from the current 20 hours; plus a fourth option, which is the opportunity for suggestions for a different pattern of opening from the public. The consultation runs until 4 April 2016.

This reduction in opening hours will ensure that the service can continue with other essential behind the scenes cataloguing and conservation work which supports public access to archives. An enquiry service will continue to be maintained from Tuesdays to Fridays. Local History Centres, housed in a number of libraries and other venues across the county, will also continue to provide access to their local and family history resources. Volunteering, events and courses as well as education sessions for schools and colleges will also continue to be provided on days when the service is not open to the general public.

The outcome of the consultation is expected to be confirmed in April, with the new pattern of opening hours introduced from May 2016.

Stuart West, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for leisure and culture, said:

“Reducing the opening hours of a valued service like Shropshire Archives is a hard decision, made necessary by the severe budget reductions faced by Shropshire Council. We hope that customers of Shropshire Archives and the wider public will give us their views on the proposed changes.”

The consultation is on the ‘get involved’ pages of Shropshire Council’s website: click here.

For further information telephone 0345 678 9096, email archives@shropshire.gov.uk, or visit the website www.shropshirearchives.org.uk