YOUR MILLS NEED YOU
Right chaps, it's time. Councillors will meet on Thursday to vote on the proposals to cut funding to the museums service.
Realistically, they will vote yes to cutting funding to this service.
However, you fantastic people have all asked them to revise the cuts outlined in the proposals to give us one more year to come up with an alternative model to run the museums at Helmshore and Queen Street without council funding. I need to submit this tomorrow so they can consider it when they discuss the cuts. Don't worry, I will look after this bit.
However, I NEED YOUR HELP. A Councillor has told me that despite having 3000 signatures, this only counts as one document because it just means I have made a point that you all agree with. If you really want to help you need to email Councillor Jennifer Mein, Councillor Margaret Brindle (Queen Street is under her remit) and and ask her the same thing that I have.
If you need ideas, here is a step-by-step guide:
1. Open a new email and type '
Jennifer.Mein@lancashire.gov.uk' (if you live in Lancashire) and
margaret.brindle@lancashire.gov.uk (if you live in Burnley) and
dave.stansfield@lancashire.gov.uk (if you live in Helmshore) in the address bar
2. Dear Councillor Mein, Councillor Brindle or Councillor Stansfield,
3. I do not want the council to cut funding to the Mill Museums at Helmshore and Queen Street because:
- I am entitled to my heritage
- They are a nationally important part of British history
- The Mills are an important part of where I live
- The Mill Museums bring tourists to the area which my business depends on
- I bring my children there to help them learn
- They are an essential part of our history
- Filming goes on there which makes our local area interesting
If any of these things apply to you, INCLUDE THEM TOO:
- I would be interested in helping as a volunteer if they stay open
- I am a local history enthusiast with skills I could volunteer, such as maintaining the steam engine at Queen Street
- I work as a teacher and I rely on these museums to teach my lessons
- I bring my community group to visit
- Or something else that you love about these mills
4. Please at consider giving us longer to find an alternative way of running these museums, by funding them until April 2017.
5. Yours sincerely,
6. WRITE YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS (
including your postcode)
Please encourage as many people to do this as possible. It will strengthen the cause and make the council take our appeal seriously.
It will take you two minutes and you could save our history forever.