Website aims to stop museum plans

Funding has not been secured for the extension

A new website has gone live supporting a campaign to prevent a proposed extension to Bath's Holburne museum.

The Halt the Holburne site describes the planned development as "uncompromisingly modern" and "totally inappropriate for a conservation area".

A planning application has been submitted for the intended changes to the museum on Great Pulteney Street.

It would provide new galleries, display areas, education and visitor facilities including a shop and cafe.

Funding not secured

The work would require internal and external alterations including repositioning a staircase and building a new extension.

"There's nothing about the extension that's in keeping with Bath - it's just a modern industrial unit," said Vince Baughan from the website campaign.

"Every other building you can see around it is made from Bath stone and the planners should be considering that."

The Grade I listed building is in Grade II listed grounds

But the Director of the Museum, Alexander Sturgis, believes the new extension is the only way forward for the museum.

"What's exciting about the potential here is that we can really have a museum that works and that encourages people in not only from Bath but nationally aswell," he said.

"Without something like this, that simply wont happen and indeed it's very difficult to see what future the museum will have without the extension."

In August 2005 the Heritage Lottery Fund gave an award of £520,500 to allow the bid to progress to a second stage where the case could be put for full funding.

"A commitment was made to award up to £4,354,000 subject to satisfactory assessment of the Stage 2 application - the project has not yet reached that point," said Ann Hunt of the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The Holburne Museum is a Grade I listed building in a Grade II listed landscape.

"The museum is actually the original Sydney hotel for the gardens - they were all designed as one and if this new extension is allowed it will sever the connection between the hotel and gardens for ever," said Mr Baughan.

Around 33,000 people visit the museum each year.