THE new administration at Durham County Council hopes to win back the public’s respect after agreeing to review a controversial decision to close the Durham Light Infantry Museum.

The council’s new cabinet, made up of Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and independents following last month’s election, has this morning agreed to look again at the options for the care, storage and display of the DLI collection, archive, museum building and grounds.

The move was described as “a key priority to review and ensure that the proud and significant military history of County Durham is recognised” and follows a decision of the council in 2015 to close the museum at Aykley Heads, Durham.

The Northern Echo:

Councillor Mark Wilkes, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change, said: “The decision of the previous administration to close Durham Light Infantry Museum without any consultation was a disgrace.

“The DLI fought in every major battle of the Great War and in the final victory of 1918 and some 13,000 Durhams died on those battlefields - with thousands more wounded, gassed or taken prisoner.

“Before and since the Great War our proud soldiers have repeatedly stood up for our country and our county.

“The respect that this council lost from the decision of the previous administration can today start to be rectified.”

Cllr Wilkes said he had visited the museum site and was not happy with its current state but is confident that some immediate improvements to tidy up the exterior will help.

He added: “This will help give the grounds the respect they deserve, as a place so many people like to visit for quiet contemplation and to respect those that have fallen.”

Members heard that the decision in 2015 included the storage of items at Sevenhills, in Spennymoor, and proposals to loan items to a number of venues including Palace Green Library in Durham, Bishop Auckland Town Hall, Spennymoor, Newton Aycliffe and Seaham.

This was meant to share the history of the DLI with wider groups across the county and save money.

The present plan is to move the collection to a new £19.6m history centre at Mount Oswald Manor House in the city, which is currently under construction.

However, campaigners fear that would amount to “putting it into storage”.

All options for the display and storage of the DLI Collection, archive and the vacant museum - along with the new history centre - will now be considered.

A report setting out the opportunities, costs, risks and implications of any proposals will go before councillors by September.

The Northern Echo:

Cllr Elizabeth Scott, cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “It is an extremely high priority of all members of this joint administration to understand what has gone before and to consult on the future of the DLI.

“Under agreement with the Trustees who own the collection and archive, the county council cares for over 200,000 archive items and 15,000 archive objects.

“Our high standard of care means that the collections are nationally accredited.

“The collection and its accessibility are incredibly important to the council and most importantly to the residents of County Durham.

“The collection and archive has had a number of different homes over its lifetime including the DLI Museum at Aykley Heads and it is right that the council should now undertake a review of current options and plans for the collection, archive, building and the grounds in which it sits.”