The proposal to close the Durham Light Infantry Museum in Durham City has sparked great debate. In a joint statement, James Ramsbotham, chairman of the DLI Trustees, and Neil Foster, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for economic regeneration and culture, explain the rationale behind the decision

WE fully understand the strong feelings that people have about the DLI collection and their desire to see the heritage of our magnificent regiment not only maintained and preserved for future generations but celebrated further. We understand it, because we feel that way too.

The story of the Durham Light Infantry is central to the history of County Durham, not just as it is now, but taking in areas of modern day Teesside, Sunderland, Gateshead and South Tyneside.

But after almost 50 years in its present home, it is time to consider what we can do with our great DLI collection to celebrate that heritage in the decades to come.

Make no mistake we cannot continue to tell the story as we currently are.

The current approach is not working, with a building that is not fit for purpose as a museum, that the collection has outgrown, and which attracts just 39,000 people a year.

By comparison even temporary exhibitions such as the Bowes Museum’s Yves Saint Laurent display attracted almost 70,000 people in only four months, and the Lumiere Festival saw on average 50,000 visitors across each of its four days.

We understand that any change for the collection is an emotive issue but all those who served, who fought and died bravely, who did their county proud, deserve to see their stories shared as widely as possible.

With that in mind we now have an opportunity to refresh and re-invigorate the DLI story, taking in its successors, The Light Infantry and The Rifles, and make a strong statement about keeping the DLI right in the centre of our great county.

We are determined to maintain our “faithful” support for the regiment and to see it remembered with pride for generations to come.

That is why the DLI Trustees, Durham County Council and Durham University are working tirelessly together to develop a wonderful new way of telling the DLI story - a way that will give it the far greater audience it rightly deserves.

Placing new exhibitions on the DLI at the heart of Durham, near to the DLI Chapel at Durham Cathedral and the DLI memorial statue in the Market Place, will bring this important part of our history to hundreds of thousands more people.

The free History of the DLI gallery will see a range of items, including the full medal collection, loaned to the University, and many of them will play a part in a superb semi-permanent exhibition lasting for at least five years. In due course we will consult families and friends of the DLI, and the public, about the stories and objects they would like to see included.

Alongside it, five annual exhibitions will allow us to tell key stories, starting with the DLI’s journey from Durham to the Western Front, 100 years on from the huge sacrifices at the Battle of the Somme.

Again we will be asking for ideas of what people may want to see covered in future years.

As well as these exhibitions work is well underway on an exciting programme of events that further explore and commemorate the role of Durham men and women at war – we are itching to tell you all about it and we expect to be able to reveal full details in the new year.

And through the continuing support of Durham County Council, the education programmes that help future generations understand the importance of the DLI, and remember the sacrifices their forebears made, will continue in collaboration with the University’s Learning Team.

While all of this is happening the rest of the collection will be moved to a secure research facility at Sevenhills in Spennymoor, where those items which need it will benefit from environmentally controlled conditions, at a site that is more suitable both for the current size of the collection, and which will allow it to continue to grow.

No decision has been taken on what will happen to the current building and surrounding area. It has not been earmarked for housing or other development, and once vacated will be considered for a number of alternative uses.

We would also hope at this stage to allay any fears that the move to Spennymoor means the collection will be hidden behind closed doors. The public will be able to arrange to visit any items, while curators, conservators and volunteers will be able to study and work on items. Future exhibitions will obviously draw from this fantastic resource.

Please rest assured that we are very aware of the importance of the DLI both to the history and people of the county and beyond.

And we feel sure our efforts will offer both a fitting tribute to those who served with the regiment, and ensure the continuation of the collection for many years to come.