THE loss-making Cogges Museum, in Witney, could depend more on volunteers to help run it in the future.

But staff, many of them part-time, are beginning to feel they have an uncertain future as the drive is on over the next three years to cut the £250,000 annual running losses.

The owners, Oxfordshire County Council, have pledged to keep the museum open, but will reduce taxpayers' finance.

A public meeting next week will outline initiatives under way since the museum first came under the threat of closure.

There will also be a call for more people to become involved in the day-to-day running of the historic house and garden.

Figures released by the county show that last year the income was just £120,000 (with £70,000 coming from 25,000 visitors), while costs were £367,000.

The major part of that was £234,000 for staff.

While there is just a skeleton staff in the winter, when the museum is closed, it depends on its full-time and part-time staff to run it during the open season.

This week, it emerged that staff are worried about their future.

An employee, who did not want to be identified, told the Gazette: "We had a staff meeting, and the feeling was that we might be offloaded in the future."

The meeting, on February 27, at 7pm, at St Mary's Church, Cogges, has been called by the Cogges Museum Trust.

Its chairman, David Freeman, was unavailable, but Martyn Brown, county heritage and arts officer, said: "We are really keen to get a good turnout. It's an important opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved so far in saving Cogges.

"But we also need to start discussions about the future, which will include more voluntary involvement day-to-day. A number of proposals have come forward for the longer-term future, and some of them include a much greater community presence."

Senior council officers and councillors, including Jim Couchman, cabinet member for social and community services, and his cabinet colleague David Robertson, who lives in the town, are expected to be there.

Volunteers have previously helped the museum in four areas - running the garden, helping out with the farm animals, putting on traditional demonstrations, like rag rugging, and security duties. A special volunteers' day is to be held on Saturday, March 8, primarily to help get the museum ready for the new season, which opens for the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, on March 22.

Lorraine Horne, marketing manager, said: "It is a bucket and sponge job to spruce the place up.

"Volunteers are going to be important, because, of course, the work they do is free.

"But, just as important, it gives them a sense of ownership and community involvement.

"The majority of the volunteers we have are retired.

"They have the time, but it would be lovely to have some teenagers on board. I am hoping the public meeting will bring more people out of the woodwork."

The museum opened in 1978, and at one stage, it was attracting 80,000 visitors a year. Its current plight became clear in a leaked council document late last year, but following a huge public outcry, the council guaranteed it would not close.

Apart from a move to get more volunteers involved, there are also plans to bring in commercial finance and expertise.

This week, it was confirmed that in a bid to attract more visitors, the season ticket prices for Cogges were being cut considerably.

The following have been agreed by the council, with last year's season ticket prices in brackets: adult £18 (£27.50), child £7.50 (£15), family £45 (£80), concession £15 (£18).

Single visit tickets, however, have been rounded up by much smaller percentages: adult £6 (£5.70), child £2.50 (£2.45), family £15 (£14.50), concessions £5 (£4.85).

The thinking behind it is to get customer loyalty and community involvement from local people in the museum's future.

Ms Horne said: "We looked at various options, and decided on a really good deal on season tickets.

"Hopefully, more people will buy them and get us off to a good start to the season, with money in the bank.

"For local people, it is a really great offer. They will be able to make multiple visits throughout the season for a much lower cost."

Last year, the museum had 25,000 visits through the gates, but only 150 season tickets were sold.

Source: Witney Gazette