Farron calls on Culture Minister to put his money where his mouth is and save the Armitt

12.00.00am GMT Tue 9th Mar 2010

MP Tim Farron has called on Culture Minister Ben Bradshaw to deliver on his warm words about the Armitt Museum and provide the funds to keep it open.

Last week Ben Bradshaw issued a statement of support for the museum and gave the campaign to save it his backing. However, Tim is calling on the Mr Bradshaw to put his money where his mouth is and provide a small amount of funding to help keep the museum open.

Tim said, "We're really grateful for Ben Bradshaw's support, but he could make a real difference if his department were simply to offer a small amount of funding. I've asked him to do that and I hope he will see that this is the way he could really make a difference and protect this vital collection."

The museum is currently home to a wide ranging collection which includes works by Kurt Schwitters and Beatrix Potter, many Roman artefacts, and more than 25,000 photographs, including images by J W Brunskill and Herbert Bell. The charitable trust running the museum has been dogged by financial problems and has recently confirmed that unless additional funding could be found that the museum would be forced to close permanently.

Tim has recently raised the issue in parliament by tabling an EDM (Early Day Motion) to raise the profile of the campaign and to gain support from parliamentary colleagues.

Tim said: "After the floods the government promised to help Cumbria to rebuild and to get back on its feet again. I am asking on behalf of South Lakeland for you to step up and honour part of that pledge now. £10,000 that is needed to help save the Armitt in the grand scheme of things is quite small beer."