Following a recent Health & Safety review of the property where Yeovil Town Council’s South Somerset Heritage Collection is housed, it has been decided that the building will be closed to general public access. As a result, access to the collection will be limited to staff and volunteers only.
The South Somerset Heritage Collection is currently located at Lufton Depot on Artillery Road, a site owned by Somerset Council. The review identified that the building is not suited to public access, particularly for visitors unfamiliar with the site. For clarity, the collection remains fully accessible to staff and volunteers, and its care and management continue as normal.
Yeovil Town Council recognises that this change naturally prompts questions about future public access to the South Somerset Heritage Collection. The Council would like to reassure residents and stakeholders that it remains fully committed to the collection’s long-term future and to making it accessible to the public. To support this, a working party has been established that will commission a study exploring suitable alternative premises for the collection. The group’s initial focus will be to agree the scope of this study that will include an options appraisal for the development of a Museum or Heritage Centre for Yeovil. Yeovil Town Council recognise there is a huge amount of passion, knowledge and expertise in this area and will seek to appoint an experienced, independent and expert body to consult, examine and report their findings for members to consider through our established democratic processes. Further updates will be shared as progress is made and we will publicise opportunities for residents, businesses and organisations to have their say and contribute to this development.
Amanda Card Chief Executive / Town Clerk
Adam Burgan Director of Culture