Plans to create a museum inside Wellington’s Edgbaston House have been shelved after it was revealed costs would be too high.
Councillor Denis Allen has announced a proposed museum will not be created inside the historic 19th century building on Walker Street, in Wellington, and the search is now on for a new location.
Councillor Allen said: “The Wrekin Museum Partnership group were hoping to get Edgbaston House and in spite of Telford & Wrekin Council’s help we cannot afford it.
“It was going to cost nearly a third of a million pounds which is a lot for us.”
In the original plans for Wellington’s regeneration Edgbaston House was listed for demolition.
But residents fought to protect the building with sections dating back to medieval times.
Wellington H2A (Heritage & Arts Alive) ran a facebook group to save the buildings attracting around 200 members, most under 35.
Edgbaston House, a former solicitors’ and coroner’s office, was hoped to be transformed into a museum to celebrate the Wrekin with information about the area’s history.
Mr Allen said WMP still want a museum in Wellington.
“We have had some offers,” he said.
“A business in town say they might be able to help us. It is encouraging.
“Edgbaston House would have been wonderful but it was too good to be true.”
Rob Francis, chairman of H2A and member of WMP property subcommittee said WMP were not ‘wedded to the idea of Edgbaston House as a location’ but if a grant was secured then it could still be a possibility.
“I think using Edgbaston House remains a possibility among other sites we are looking into for a museum,” he said.
Mr Francis thought if the house is not used as a museum it may be turned into residential or office space.
A spokesperson for Telford & Wrekin Council said no decision had been made on the final future of the building.