CHARTER TRUST MOVES TO PROTECT CITY TREASURES

11.00.00am GMT Wed 9th Dec 2009

The demise of Durham City Council has brought into question the ownership of the many historic and ceremonial artifacts held by the former Council and located in the Town Hall.

Legally, the Charter Trust, which continues the mayoralty until a Town Council is created, only has rights over items that are both historic and ceremonial. These items form a small proportion of the contents of the Town Hall. Most of the rest will transfer into the ownership of the County Council.

At a meeting today, the Charter Trustees were unanimous in expressing their fervent wish for the Town Hall to remain the home of all these items that have been gifted to the City of Durham over the past four hundred years.

Leading Lib Dem Councillor, Nigel Martin, said:

"It would be a tragedy for the City if this collection was broken up. It is part of the history and civic life of our City.

"The Charter Trustees are therefore asking the County Council to enter into a formal Memorandum of Understanding with us to underwrite the importance of the Civic Centre of Durham remaining as the home of the wonderful collection that is the proud heritage of the people of this City."