Dinosaur gallery on the cards

The museum could also host a much-needed tourist information point for the town.

The document is an essential element in seeking funding for further projects aimed at placing the museum as second only to the De La Warr Pavilion as a Bexhill visitor attraction.

The five-year plan succeeds the scheme which saw the Society of Bexhill Museums Ltd reopen the museum last summer after the addition of major new galleries.

The society sank 288,000 of its own fund-raising into a project which enjoyed generous Heritage Lottery and Rother council funding.

The new document takes museum planning up to 2014 '“ when the museum will celebrate its centenary.

It was formally accepted by the society's board of directors last Friday.

The board recorded a vote of thanks to society head of fundraising John Betts for his work in drafting the plan.

The plan's mission statement is "to challenge and inspire Bexhill residents and visitors of all ages by promoting learning and encouraging discovery."

Society board chairman Stella Bellem says in a preamble: "The new facility now meets all the needs of a modern museum.

"Two new galleries celebrate Bexhill's motoring/technical heritage and the history of costume, fashion and social history.

"The old gallery (now named the Henry Sargent Gallery, fully restored to its original glory) includes many favourites beloved by past generations.

"The museum reception and shop area has been greatly increased in size and for the first time the museum can provide a caf and visitor toilets."

Proposals include the creation of new displays; the development of visitor research; encouraging the short-term loan of items and continual upgrading of the new website.

It says public needs and desires need to be defined and a wider programme of public events developed together with new partnerships.

Outreach education services should be rebuilt and expanded and a wider circle of groups encourage to use the museum.

The society currently has more than 500 members. With the exception of the curator and administrator, the museum is wholly dependent on volunteer staffing. A key strategic aim is to recruit new members and develop a volunteer training scheme.

The plan says a coherent marketing and promotion policy must be developed, local fundraising stepped up and regional and national fund-seeking expanded and local business partners sought.

l A copy of the full forward plan may be seen on the museum's www.bexhill-museum.co.uk website and in the Egerton Road museum