A HISTORIC museum is gearing up to welcome visitors again.

Following the Government’s guidelines on easing lockdown restrictions Head of Steam museum in Darlington is set to reopen on Tuesday July 14 from 10am, with a range of measures in place to ensure the safety of staff and visitors.

Cllr Andy Keir, Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for local services, outlined the safety changes.

"The first obvious change is that all visitors will need to book their visit in advance, with slots staggered so we can manage the number of people in the museum at any one time, and give staff the chance to do regular cleaning. Annual pass holders will also need to book a time for their visit," he said.

“We will have a hand sanitising station in reception, which we’ll ask visitors to use as they come in, and some areas of the museum will be closed to allow social distancing to be maintained.

“Our staff are busy getting things ready this week, cleaning all areas and putting up signs for visitors to follow. "Everyone is looking forward to welcoming visitors, old and new, to our much-loved museum.”

The museum will also comply with the government's Test and Trace measures so will require contact details for all visitors.

Admission prices will be reduced to reflect the fact that not all spaces and facilities will be available. Adult admission will be £3.75 (the current concessionary rate) and children under 16 will be free. Carers will continue to be free when accompanying the person they care for.

Annual Pass holders can enter for free until December 2021, this has been extended due to exhibitions being closed, and family annual passes will be sold at the reduced price of £10 and will also be valid until December 2021.

Currently the museum's regular activities such as Station Scamps, Dementia Café and Railway workers coffee mornings will remain cancelled for now, until staff can offer these in a socially distanced and COVID secure way.

The playroom at reception will also be closed, as will the Victorian toilets, cab of No. 901, and the third class carriage. This is due to the lack of space to social distance in these places and they are difficult to clean to the required COVID secure standard.

There will be no access into the Pease Room, but the door will be open with a barrier placed across so that visitors can still look into the room.

The Temporary Exhibition Room will have a one way system in place. It will host the Streetwise exhibition, which has been extended until October. A taster of this has been shared online while the museum has been closed, and tells of the fascinating stories behind some of the street names in Darlington.

Access equipment such as a manual wheelchair and a walker with a seat to borrow is still available.

Refreshments will be available on a takeaway basis using disposable cutlery, and seating will be available outside.