Historians attack council over records care

HISTORIANS from around Plymouth and Devon have attacked council leaders at a fiery public meeting for not taking enough care of the city's ancient records.

The city council faced a barrage of criticism at a meeting called to discuss the fate of the Plymouth and West Devon Records Office.

Dr Todd Gray, one of the organisers, said: "Plymouth is known among archivists as the worst-appointed public records office in the country.

"There are academics from around the world who are interested in Plymouth's records."

Dr Gray said the city council had been given until 2013 to bring the record office in Clare Place up to scratch after the National Archives classified the building as unsuitable for storing records.

The city risked having its priceless historic documents being taken away to the National Records Office at Kew in London, he said.

The Coxside office was set up in 1982 as a temporary facility, said Dr Gray, an honorary research fellow at Exeter University, adding: "Twenty-seven years is too long to wait."

However, he praised the work of staff at the records office.

Vivien Pengelly, the council leader, told an audience of around 70 people that the council was actively searching for a new home to house the records, along with other important archives in the city.

She agreed that the Coxside office was 'a disgrace.

"I'm rather ashamed at the site at how our documents are housed, and the small amount of space available for the public to use", she said.

However, she added that earlier plans to create a 'History Centre' in the basement of Windsor House in Derriford were not viable.

Mrs Pengelly also revealed that the council was negotiating to use a large building it owned which had recently become vacant. She said she could not name the building until the talks were finished.

She invited Dr Todd and Maureen Selley, the chairman of the Devon Family History Society, to help to advise the council in setting up the History Centre.

Councillor Glenn Jordan, the city's Cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport, told the meeting in Spurgeon Hall, Mutley Plain, that creating a 'History Centre' was the second highest priority for the city council after building a new leisure centre in Central Park.

Mr Jordan said that the records were a 'sub-regional' asset, but one for which Plymouth was forced to bear the entire cost.

James Coulton, the council's head of culture, sport and leisure, said the city could not afford to buy or build a new home for the History Centre, and would have to use a building it already owned.

David Holman, chairman of the national Federation of Family History Societies, said his organisation chose a very small number of causes to support.

"We have chosen to support Plymouth because of the importance of this city," he told the meeting.

Tory councillor Andy Fox said later: "For over 25 years we have housed our records in a temporary archive centre and already within two years of being leader, Mrs Pengelly has committed herself in positively engaging with organisations to make positive steps in providing a permanent home in Plymouth for our historic records as soon as possible."