Date: 8th July 2013
Oldham Lib Dems still remain concerned at any possible threat of closure to the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry.
Councillor Howard Sykes, Leader of the Opposition on Oldham Council and Leader of the Lib Dem Group, and Councillor, John McCann, Deputy Leader, have submitted a motion to the next Oldham Council meeting on Wednesday 17th July outlining the concerns of the Liberal Democrats:
“This Council notes with concern the potential closure of the Manchester Science and Industry Museum.
The museum represents not only a great free day out for our borough’s residents and their families, but is also a splendid educational resource.
Visitors and students, young and old, are reminded that Manchester was both a powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution, but also the home of such revolutionary scientific developments as the mainframe computer.
Consequently, the museum represents both a tribute to the ingenuity of Manchester people, past and present, and an inspiration to our region’s future engineers, inventors and scientists.
The fact that it is located in a building itself of world historic significance would make its loss all the more bitterly felt by the citizens of this region”.
The motion pledges the Council to take some definite action in support of MOSI:
“The Council therefore resolves to ask the Chief Executive to write to:
– The trustees of the Science Museum Group outlining this Council’s opposition to any threat of closure
– The three local Members of Parliament asking them to use every effort to oppose any threat of closure
– The other AGMA authorities and the GM Combined Authority asking them to join us in opposing any threat of closure”
Councillor Sykes said: “I believe that all three local party leaders are united in opposing the closure of this much loved and iconic museum.”
In advance of Council, on 13th June, I wrote to all three local Labour MPs asking them to sign Early Day Motion 196, which is sponsored in the House of Commons by John Leech, Liberal Democrat MP for Withington, who is a leading campaigner opposing closure.
Following my letter, Michael Meacher signed the Early Day Motion on 17th June and David Heyes did so on 24th June, joining MPs of all three main political parties in doing so.
Inexplicably to date, the Labour MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, Debbie Abrahams, has yet to add her name to the motion, which appears to contradict her stated aim to “honour and celebrate, not destroy” MOSI, so I urge her to do so.”
Ends/…
For further information contact Howard Sykes
Note to Editors
Early Day Motion 196 – Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry:
That this House notes with concern the possible threat of closure hanging over Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester’s most popular visitor attraction; further notes the historic significance of the Museum’s location housed on the site of the world’s first intercity railway station in a part of the world’s first industrial city; welcomes the Manchester Evening News’ campaign to keep it open; and calls on Ian Blatchford and the rest of the London-based Science Museum Group to ensure that this cultural and educational landmark is not sacrificed for short-term budgetary gains.
Primary Sponsor – John Leech MP