Orpington museum archive plans will 'tarnish beauty and deprive community of space'
Following its decision to relocate Bromley Central Library to the former Topshop unit in Bromley High Street earlier this year, Bromley Council announced its intention to build a new archive and museum store that would bring together the borough's entire museum and art collection under one roof.
According to council documents, the new one-storey archive facility would cost around £3.9 million to construct and measure 630m².
It would be located within a depot in Priory Gardens, Orpington, replacing the existing museum and art store and a building used by the council's environment department and idverde, Bromley's parks and ground maintenance contract holder.
The new archive would only be publicly accessible as part of special events such as the Open House Festival and Heritage Open Days, with Bromley residents able to view its contents by request and appointment at the new Bromley Central Library.
Bromley Council has stated the facility would meet 'high environmental and fire protection standards', it would be located away from public view and it would not be built on public park land as it is contained within the depot.
The council also said the existing mature trees around the depot would be retained and new hedges and trees would be planted to enhance the biodiversity of the site.
After the announcement of the archive plans in May, Cllr Yvonne Bear said: 'It is important that we take the necessary steps to preserve our heritage, with these plans ensuring important local relics of our past remain available to residents as needed long into the future.'
Following the release of these plans, a petition was launched in opposition to them. As of July 4, it has gained over 1,800 signatures.
The petition 'Say No to the £3.9 million Warehouse in Priory Gardens' calls for the money to be invested in the Priory Gardens depot 'in a way that enriches the lives of the community' and 'adds growth to local businesses and economy'.
The petition reads: 'If allowed to proceed, this project will not only tarnish the beauty and serenity of this historic site but also deprive the community of a public space that could serve as a valuable social and educational resource.
'Instead of creating a closed-off archive storage facility, we could aim to establish a community garden hub, a children's crèche, an educational centre and community garden.
'Such a hub would provide a place for educational workshops, allow collaborations with local businesses, and enhance social interaction across all age groups. It has the potential to foster a collective sense of belonging, strengthen community ties, and enrich lives in Bromley Borough.
'Bromley Council must reconsider their decision and prioritise projects that align with the community's needs and wishes. According to studies, access to green spaces can improve mental health, enhance community engagement, and boost local economies.
'Priory Gardens holds the potential to be so much more than a garden—it can be a sustainable community space that benefits everyone.'
The petition was started by Caroline Jeffrey, a member of the Friends of Priory Gardens, a group devoted to preserve, promote and protect the Grade II listed Arts & Crafts and Italianate style gardens.
The group does not support Bromley Council's archive proposal, saying it would 'degrade' the gardens with a 'monolithic warehouse' and it has promoted the petition objecting to it.
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