THE future of Westbury Visitor and Heritage Centre has been called into question as the team of volunteers are struggling to raise enough funds to pay for their current premises, leaving them to explore other venues to promote the town and its history.
Currently the town council pay the rent on the centre in the High Street, but Westbury Heritage Society has to raise funds to pay for rates, heating, lighting, exhibitions, internet and more. Funds are raised through sales, events, talks and through fees generated by the team doing specialist talks to other organisations. The heritage and visitor centre is staffed by volunteers.
Sally Hendry, chair of Westbury Heritage Society said, “We really hope the town council will continue to fund us as we believe we provide an invaluable service in the town, both in terms of providing general information and in the promotion of the town’s heritage. We continue to work with the council and have provided it with our business plan.
“We believe it is really important that people, especially in our fast-expanding community, should be made aware of the town’s interesting past and we are committed to continuing to do just that.
“We have a regular programme of walks and events relating to the town history; these range from tours of buildings to specialist talks, walks round historic Westbury and family history research sessions. We work with other organisations such as the Wiltshire Family History Society, local schools and voluntary organisations.
“We really hope to stay in our current premises, but are also exploring other venues and ways of working. Whatever the outcome, we promise there will still be a heritage society providing exhibitions of items of interest and accessible information about our town history and we really hope we can rely on the support of our community.
“If anyone has thoughts on what they would like to see at the centre or would like to help out as a volunteer, please email Sally Hendry at sjbh52@icloud.com, pop into the centre, or visit our website which has a range of articles and historic photographs at www.westburyheritagesociety.org.uk.
