Council denies lease to bidders for River and Rowing Museum

Henley Town Council have today announced that they will not assign the lease for the preferred bidder to change it into the proposed health and fitness centre at the River & Rowing Museum.

At the Full Council meeting this week, two residents urged the Council to listen to many residents who want to keep a museum and for the Council to be more transparent and open with the discussions taking place with the potential buyers Mike Spink and Rob Hamilton who want to operate it as health and fitness facility.

Ken Arlett, District Councillor said, “I like to comment on this as more as a resident.  Before the Council makes a decision on what they prepared to do or not do. I ask they take into account the following.  The RRM Trustees were granted a 99 year lease to build a museum for the river, rowing and Henley museum by the then Council.  The River & Rowing Museum were granted a lease as a non-profit organisation not as a commercial company. The River & Rowing Museum were granted planning permission as they were a not-for-profit organisation.  If the original planning application were for a private limited company, I don’t think SODC would have supported this.  By granting the planning application, the Council at that time realised would they lose tens of thousands of pounds from car parking but in the interest of a community building which would be open to all the then Council made the decision for the benefit of not just the town’s residents but all visitors from far and wide.  Recently the Town Council supported the River & Rowing Museum in its planning application to turn part of the building into offices.  This decision was supported by SODC to help financially support the museum.  The buildings are for community use not private use.”

David Feary spoke on behalf of the Henley Archaeological and Historical Group (HAHG) “The group has had a serious long-term interest in the future of the museum.  We’ve been conversation with the Trustees of the RRM for four to five years.  We know there is a strong support in the town for a new museum.  We held a survey in the final day of museum being open when we were actively showing people around and we spoke to 200 people all of whom supported the idea of a new Henley museum without exception. Cate Tren, the curator at the museum has been very helpful to us which has allowed us to access a database of about 10,000 items in the museum to help to tell the story of Henley and its position by the Thames.  The Chair of the Trustees has always said that we can rely on them to do the right thing.  The Trustees are mostly from the rowing community and not from Henley.  We are told they do not want to run a new museum.”

David asked if the Council could make public more information about the current situation and the issues they face and is there anymore that the HAHG could do.

Henley Mayor, Councillor Ian Reissmann, “I think everyone on this Council and the vast majority of residents, if not everyone, recognizes the importance of the museum, the contribution it has made in the past and the importance of keeping the contribution that it can make in the future as protected as possible.  This matter is very important to the Town Council both as a custodian of public assets and the landowner.  The matter is complex, legal and financial.  Unfortunately, we can’t discuss the matter in an open session as it would be prejudicial to the public interest.  I hope that we can reassure residents we are rightly concerned about the future of the building as well as the Henley collection and possible future museum.  We’ll continue to be open and transparent as possible as we can with residents of Henley while we represent their interests and wishes for the future.  We’ll continue to tell as much as we can consistent with our legal and other obligations.”

A spokesperson for Henley Town Council said, “Henley Town Council has carefully considered the request for consent to assign the lease of the River & Rowing Museum site. Following consideration of the request and legal advice, the Council has decided NOT TO GRANT CONSENT to the proposed assignment. As this matter involves ongoing legal and commercial considerations, it would not be appropriate to comment further on the reasons for the decision at this stage. The Council recognises the importance of this site to the community and remains committed to working with relevant stakeholders to support the best possible long-term outcome for this important community asset.”

“Separately, the Council continues to work with the River & Rowing Museum Foundation and other partners to help secure a permanent and sustainable Henley Museum and will provide further updates when it is appropriate to do so.

“The future of the River & Rowing Museum (RRM) was discussed in the closed confidential session of the Full Council meeting last night to review the recommendations of the Council’s RRM Working Group.”

Mr Rob Hamilton will respond to this announcement next week after further legal discussions have taken place.