Friday 9th October saw an important development in plans to improve the District’s Museum Service when senior officers of the St Albans City and District Council and the New Museum for St Albans Action Group met. Discussions focused on how best to reflect and make accessible the history of the City and District and to start to provide a 21st century service.

Dr Jill Singer, speaking for the New Museum for St Albans Action Group said: “The City and District has been described as a microcosm of England with almost every aspect of life and times throughout the centuries found in one place. From its post Roman beginnings circa 410 and to the present day the City has been a cradle for change and progress, reaching into all corners of life: academia, science, religion, industry, architecture, transportation and there should be a centre where all that is made accessible. The Group was pleased that this need is recognised and there is going to be a reference group set up in which the New Museum for St Albans campaign group will be included.”

She also welcomed, as a first step, the intention for the Museum Service within the next few months to enhance the display areas of the present Museum of St Albans by reviewing the use of space and using it more effectively.

Cllr Melvyn Teare, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Heritage said “I am really pleased that the meeting went well. I think we all want to see a museum service that the District’s communities can be proud of and contribute to, and which reflects its rich heritage. We had already started to move the service forward and this campaign could not have come at a better time.”

Specific points covered at the meeting included the intention of the Council and Museum Service to:

– Set out a clear vision and plan for improvement
– Secure the long term future of the museums service
– Include the whole community in developing plans for improvement
– Find a way to reflect the history of the City and District more fully in the displays and work of the museums
– Work with the New Museum for St Albans campaign group, the existing Verulamium Museum Trust and other concerned groups on the long term plan