Councillor Gives Reasons For Giving Archaeological Society Notice to Quit

Published on: 16 Jul, 2015
Updated on: 21 Jul, 2015

The house at Castle Arch. Photo Surrey Archaeological Society.

The house at Castle Arch within which are the rooms used by the Surrey Archaeological Society.

The lead councillor for economic development at Guildford Borough Council said today (July 16) that it had been necessary to serve the Surrey Archaeological Society notice to quit the rooms it uses at Guildford Museum in order to allow proper consideration of the council’s options.

Cllr Geoff Davis (Con, Holy Trinity), who was elected for the first time in May and was promoted straight on to the Executive, in a written statement, said: “We are committed to Guildford Museum and providing a cultural offering in Guildford for residents and visitors.

Cllr Geoff Davis

“We have been exploring potential opportunities for Guildford Museum for a number of years. We are now in the early stages of starting the process for looking at all the options. No decisions have been made yet.

“We are extremely grateful for the contribution made by the Surrey Archaeological Society to the museum and will continue to liaise very closely with the society. To allow us to properly consider our options, it is appropriate that the notice has been served.

“We continue to work with the society regarding access and use of the collection and we want to explore this with them. Any decisions taken will be open and transparent.”

Responses to Councillor Gives Reasons For Giving Archaeological Society Notice to Quit

Martin Elliott Reply

July 16, 2015 at 7:23 pm

This still seems inadequate, in my opinion, and does not give the real reason why.

If the council is in the “early stages of starting the process for looking at all the options,” how can those involved make such a fundamental and important decision that might compromise some of the options yet to emerge?

It still seems more ‘smoke and mirrors’ to me.
Jim Allen Reply

July 17, 2015 at 8:30 am

So, we need to destroy what is in existence before we can decide what to do next, eh?

Surely the process should have been:

1. look at the options;
2. decide what to do;
3. re-assign the accommodation as required.

The current situation may have been found to be the best.
Dave Middleton Reply

July 17, 2015 at 5:25 pm

“No decisions have been made yet”.

Apart from serving a tenant of some 100 years with notice to quit for no apparent reason.
Jenny Procter Reply

July 18, 2015 at 9:57 pm

What more could we expect from our community minded, transparent and caring council Executive?
Jules Cranwell Reply

July 20, 2015 at 10:12 am

Given his extensive experience as a property developer, perhaps Cllr Davis knows of a better use for the building?
Anthony Saunders Reply

July 21, 2015 at 8:59 am

Are Guildford Borough Council saying to the Surrey Archaeological Society:

“You may have to leave but we will work together on the best way forward,”

or, “We have decided what to do with the building but cannot make it public yet”?