Council museum cuts opening hours to save cash

A local authority-run museum in Suffolk will adopt a four-day week opening schedule to help the council balance its budget.

The BBC reports that Christchurch Mansion, which is run by a joint committee between Ipswich Borough Council and Colchester City Council, is currently open six days a week, but the public will only be able to visit on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 21 April.

The changes were presented in an Ipswich Borough Council meeting to allow the local authority to provide a reduced subsidy.

Over the next four years, the local authority has a £23.3m budget gap and hopes that reducing the museum’s opening will produce net savings of £43,000 in 2025/2026 and a further £86,000 from 2026/2027.

The council has also proposed charging for exhibitions at the Wolsey Art Gallery, which is housed in the museum.

Ipswich Labour councillor Carole Jones said: ”By reducing the opening hours at Christchurch Mansion, the council is able to deliver a balanced budget to deliver essential savings, which will help us to manage costs while maintaining this historic building.”