A Suffolk historian who collected vital research from the Lowestoft Record Office has said it will “diminish the community” if the archive is moved out of the town.
The Save Our Record Office (SORO) group was formed after proposals emerged to close the town’s record office and move archives to the new centre being established in Ipswich, The Hold.
More than 7,000 people have signed the petition calling for it to remain in Lowestoft, and has attracted the backing of high profile people such as Time Team presenter Tony Robinson.
New Suffolk County Council leader Matthew Hicks said he did not want to see the record office move, and vowed to work with the community to find a solution to safeguarding the archives’ presence in the town.
Worlingham aviation historian Ian McLachan has joined the campaign to save the archive, and said it was vital for the community for it to remain.
“Growing up in Lowestoft, I became fascinated by the legacy of aviation in the area and my first book Final Flights entailed numerous visits to the record office.
“My intention had been to donate the original source material and other archives to the record office for the benefit of future historians.
“However, the decision to close such an important access to local history is now making me reconsider this action.”
He added: “If the town is robbed of its own records office, it will diminish the community and discourage research, leading to a dilution of local knowledge and a reduction in the town’s spirit of celebrating its past.”
On Friday, SORO group members met with Mr Hicks during the county council’s We Are Listening event in the town, presenting a cake to him in the spirit of open and friendly discussion.
Mr Hicks moved to reassure locals that while he couldn’t confirm the future of the record office in place now, plans would be established to keep an archive facility in north Suffolk.
“The way we are going to take it forward is that we are going to work with the community,” he said. The message is very clear from the residents of Lowestoft about where they feel the records office should be.”
He added: “Let’s look at the project, reach a solution, agree what is best for the community and best for Lowestoft and the wider area, and then we can come up with a plan of how we can look to fund it.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here