ENTRY fees will not be introduced at Swindon Museum & Art Gallery to plug budget gaps, despite warnings fees could be introduced at attractions across the country.

David Fleming, president of Museums Association (MA), has said council-funded museums and galleries across the UK are considering scrapping free entry as cuts bite.

However, Swindon’s museum and gallery, in Bath Road, Old Town, which opens between 11am and 3pm from Wednesday to Saturday, will continue to offer free entry despite tighter budgets at Swindon Borough Council.

Coun Garry Perkins (Con, Haydon Wick), cabinet member for economy, regeneration and skills, said entrance fees were not even on the agenda for the museum.

“We are always looking to the future and charging entry for people is not something we are looking at,” he said. “It’s not even on the agenda at all.”

Mr Fleming said admission charges were inevitable at various attractions, but would only work in locations with a high turnover of tourists.

"I'm absolutely certain that museums all over the country are considering introducing admissions fees in order to try to help plug the gaps that are appearing in their budgets,” he told the BBC.

Coun Perkins said free access to the museum was an absolute priority for the local authority and its place in the town’s history would remain unshackled by charges to the public.

“It’s very educational to start off with. For all ages it’s a part of Swindon history,” he said.

“The museum and art gallery house so many important items for the town and it’s important they have free access to them.

“We do everything we can to encourage people to come along to our art galleries and museums.”

The cabinet member said the council’s stance on entrance fees was not because the budget was so healthy it could rule it out.

He reiterated the stance was based on principle, not because there is so much cash it doesn’t need to charge.

“I wouldn’t say any budgets are looking healthy. If they are looking healthy, we need to do something about it, and that’s not me being facetious,” he said.

“If it’s not straining, it needs to be. It’s just where we are after six years. All our budgets are tight at the moment.

“They’re manageable at the moment. There are cuts every year because that’s what comes out of central government.

“It’s getting harder every year and it’s a case of squeezing every last ounce out of the budget.”