MEP urges Brummies to save city transport museum

Thursday, February 17 2011

West Midlands MEP Mike Nattrass has called on big-hearted Brummies to back a major campaign aimed at securing the long-term future of a city museum.

The UKIP MEP has pledged to support a concerted drive to save the much-loved Aston Manor Road Transport Museum, which faces closure unless £500,000 is found by its volunteers to buy the historic visitors’ attraction.

Mr Nattrass, who is a member of the EU’s Transport and Tourism Committee, says the museum is an important part of the city’s heritage and believes its future should be safeguarded.

Aston Manor Road Transport Museum houses a fascinating collection of historic and classic vehicles at its site in Witton Lane.

But, now the museum may be a victim of cutbacks by cash-strapped Birmingham City Council.

The local authority says it can no longer pay the £43,000 per year rent for the museum which has been open at the former Witton Tram Depot since 1992.

Commenting on the museum’s plight this week, MEP Mike Nattrass said it is vital that sufficient funds are raised to secure the future of the attraction which provides a valuable insight into the yesteryear of transportation.

He said: “It would be sad to see this attraction close as a result of painful council cutbacks.

“The museum is very popular with visitors who can delve into the evolution of transport in the Midlands from the 1900s to the present day. What happens to the collection of historic and classic vehicles if this museum does close?

“This museum should be widely promoted. Its closure would be a big loss to Birmingham and the region and I urge people to back the volunteers’ campaign to save this resource for future generations,” he added.

On Sunday, March 13, from 11am to 5pm, the museum will be holding a special event to showcase the attraction’s survival plan.