Suffolk funding cuts could threaten Stowmarket's Food Museum

The 84-acre museum in the heart of the county relies on the council, which is also its landlord, for 13% of its income.

Abbott's Hall Stowmarket is at the centre of the museum. (Image: Paul Geater)

But Suffolk County Council's funding is also vital in attracting more cash to the museum – and it does not have the reserves in place to cover the loss of the £102,500 it gets from the council.

The county council said it has had to make cuts in order to meet its commitments to services such as social care.

It aims to make about £65m in savings over two years.

A statement from the Food Museum said: "We budget on a break-even basis, so we are unlikely to be able to absorb the cut without reducing or ending services and raising prices.

"However the implications are wider than this. Suffolk County Council’s support is an important marker of stability for other funders and gives us the platform from which to apply for project funding.

"Each year we have to put together a jigsaw of interlocking pieces of funding to enable us to stay open – Suffolk County Council provides a critical piece which locks in others."

Food Museum director Jenny Cousins (Image: Paul Geater)

The museum, led by director Jenny Cousins, is currently working on a development plan which would see the creation of a new entrance and attract more casual visitors to its café, shop and commercial area.

The new name for the museum was controversial, but the decision has paid off. (Image: Paul Geater)

The decision to rename it two years ago was controversial – but it has been a commercial success and it has been named one of the country's best days out for a family.

The museum statement added: "In the 21st century, a museum does a lot of different things. We are, at our core, a place of education.

Eastbridge wind pump is a feature of the museum. (Image: Paul Geater)

"The learning we offer is in the landscape as well as in our collection of 40,000 objects. We are a green space with 84 acres of woodland, meadow and river landscape within walking distance for 23,000 people; we have 50 community allotments, farm animals and 18 historic buildings.

"Suffolk County Council recognises the positive impact of our work on our local community. For every £1 it gives us, we raise £9 more."

Alton Water Mill was re-erected at the museum when Alton Water was flooded in the 1970s. (Image: Paul Geater)

The museum pointed out that the county does not have its own museum service. It appears that its annual budget for museums is about £250,000 to cover staff, some activity through the Association for Suffolk Museums (£2,000) and direct grants: £102,500 to the museum, £28,500 to Gainsborough’s House and £13,500 to the Long Shop in Leiston.

In comparison, Norfolk County Council runs 10 museums directly, and has a multi-million-pound budget.

The average spend per head on museums by district and county councils across the UK is £3.54. Suffolk has a population of about 760,000, which should equate to a spend of £2.7m if we want to be at least average.

Agricultural buildings at the Food Museum. (Image: Paul Geater)

The statement concludes: "We recognise that Suffolk County Council is facing budgetary pressures which are the result of austerity measures and central government decisions.

"However our taxes should support good services for local residents and for one of the wealthier countries in the world, this has to extend further than social care."