MORE than 100 people are expected at a meeting to try to reverse a decision to make major cuts at the Ludlow Museum Resource Centre.

The meeting today at Oscars at the Ludlow Assembly Rooms has been called by the Friends of the Museum Resource Centre.

Tony Mahalski, the treasurer of the Friends, says that the objective will be to try to reverse the cost cutting measure by Shropshire Council that has three members of staff under threat of redundancy.

“This is vitally important and not just for Ludlow but for the whole of Shropshire,” said Mr Mahalski.

“The idea of replacing three people with one part-timer is unacceptable.”

A statement from Ludlow MP Philip Dunne, who has visited the Museum Resource Centre, will be read at the meeting.

He was given a tour of Ludlow Museum Resource Centre by Lottie James, chair of Friends of Ludlow Museum, and Professor Michael Rosenbaum, a distinguished geologist and frequent user of the specimen collections.

“I have been aware of the quality of the Ludlow Resource Centre as a countywide resource with collections of national and international significance since it was established,” said Philip Dunne.

“So I was keen to visit the Ludlow Resource Centre earlier this month to discuss what impact proposed reductions in staff would have on services on offer. I was impressed by the well maintained collection and the usage of the facility, and by the hard work of both the professional staff and the volunteers.

“Shropshire Council has to make savings, but I believe it is important that we maintain our county's heritage. The proposal to reduce staff is currently under consultation and I have been in contact with the portfolio holder, Councillor Tina Woodward, and Council Officers.

"I made clear my own view that the facility should be able to be maintained for normal weekly opening hours if at all possible."

The MP has suggested that whatever staffing changes take place as a result of this consultation, sufficient skilled staff are kept in place at the Resource Centre to enable the re-establishment of Ludlow Museum following its transfer from the Assembly Rooms to the Buttercross in May.

Ludlow Museum Resource Centre is currently open five days a week and caters to between 10,000 and 20,000 visitors a year. It provides resources for schools, independent researchers, scientists of national and international repute, as well as other museums.

The public meeting is at 11am.