By John Baron
More than 1,500 people have so far signed a petition asking Leeds City Council to halt plans to close Abbey House Museum in Kirkstall.
The petition was started last Tuesday by Burley resident Stuart Long in response to the council’s proposal to close the museum as part of its 2025/26 budget.
Organiser Stuart Long said: “To see over 1,500 citizens sign it to date shows the immense outpouring of support from all for this valuable resource in a much-loved community location next to Kirkstall Abbey.
“If you haven’t sign it yet then I’d call upon readers of the West Leeds Dispatch to please do so today and help provide a strong message to Leeds City Council that it must stay.”
The petition can be found here Change.org/DownAbbeyMuseum.
Leeds City Council’s consultation into the proposed closure runs until 23 January 2025 and feedback can be completed here.
Leeds City Council is proposing to close Abbey House Museum in Kirkstall as it faces an unprecedented strain on its finances.
Job losses, service cuts, building closures and a council tax rise of almost five per cent are also being considered by the authority.
Latest figures show the council needs to save £106.4m during 2025/26 to avoid having it declare itself bankrupt. The Abbey House Museum closure could save £160,000.
The council faces rising costs in services including adult social care, while central Government support of local authorities has decreased over the past 14 years.
Follow WLD‘s ongoing coverage of Abbey House Museum here.
WLD Cutswatch
WLD is following ongoing council cuts, closures and building sales in our Cutswatch series of articles.