1 week Ago By [email protected] (Kerry Ashdown)
Staffordshire History Centre's launch success has been crowned by welcoming its 5,000th visitor - but the ward councillor who represents the area said she was not invited to the official opening. TV presenter and historian Ruth Goodman joined centre staff, funders and invited guests to celebrate the new £8.7 million attraction in Stafford town centre following its opening to the public in November.
Staffordshire County Council's chairman Phil Hewitt cut the ribbon to officially launch the centre at the event. But Stafford county councillor Gillian Pardesi has questioned why she was not invited - and received a public apology from council leader Alan White. Speaking at the latest full county council meeting, Councillor Pardesi, who is standing down at May's county council election, said: "Staffordshire History Centre sits very proudly in my division in Stafford Central.
It's a very impressive showcase of Staffordshire's history and a way of preserving it for future generations - I have several residents who have come up to me and told me how much they have enjoyed their visits there. For those who were invited to the official opening, I hope you all had a very nice time. I would like to know as to why I was not invited to the official opening.
" But Councillor Carolyn Trowbridge, who is also standing down next month, said: "I've been a trustee of the William Salt Library, and now the history centre, for the last eight years, so sadly I've had my very last trustee meeting. At that trustee meeting I was asked would I stay on as a trustee in my own right, which is so fantastic. I never once said 'why wasn't I invited to the opening?' I absolutely thank the chairman for doing his job as a chairman and representing us all at that opening.
" Councillor Ann Edgeller, a former William Salt Library trustee and now part of a trust raising money for the history centre, said: "I'm not shouting about not being invited either. It wasn't political." Councillor Charlotte Atkins said: "My colleague Councillor Pardesi raises the issue of not being invited to the history centre - I was invited to the opening of the new indoor market at Leek.
It wouldn't have occurred to me that I wouldn't be invited, because it's in my patch. "I find it very odd that when something is in your particular division you're not invited. I would perhaps look to the chief executive to clarify exactly what is the established protocol for inviting councillors to an event which falls within their division.
"I believe also Councillor Afsar wasn't invited to the opening of Burton Library. I don't know if that's a coincidence. "We all want to celebrate the opening of the history centre, it's an amazing place and I'm looking forward to spending some more time there.
But it seems to me a basic courtesy that the local member should be invited. "Please clarify, because it worries me this is not just a coincidence that two Labour members have not been invited to events in their patches." The row arose as council members discussed the history centre's success, which was described in the leader's statement.
Councillor White said: "Although the History Centre only opened its doors in November, it has already welcomed its 5,000th visitor. "It really is fantastic to see the new centre reaching this milestone so soon after opening. It’s wonderful to see families and young visitors in particular enjoying the centre, the interactive exhibits and learning more about our fascinating history.
"The team have done a great job in telling the Staffordshire story and making our history so engaging, accessible and welcoming. It really is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in the region's history." Council chairman Phil Hewitt asked fellow members to consider the opening of the history centre as a celebration.
"It's a fantastic achievement for our county - let's talk about that", he added. "I'm sure if the chief executive wants to answer in writing he will do that, if the cabinet member wants to pick that up I'm sure she will do that. But I'm not allowing this debate to be hijacked by something else.
" Councillor White did address the concerns raised by Councillor Atkins and Councillor Pardesi however. He said: "I will ensure that in future when events take place, local members get invited. There is a sort of protocol to do with county-wide assets and who gets invited to those, but notwithstanding that, we should make an amendment to make sure this doesn't happen again.
Will you accept my apologies for the fact you weren't invited - I'm sorry and I'm sure we can make sure you do get a special visit so you can see what's going on there." Councillor Victoria Wilson, cabinet member for communities and culture, said: "We invited the mayors and the chairs of the eight districts and borough councils. We didn't invite local members - we decided that as it is a county service, we invited members representing each council for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
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