PEOPLE of the borough are being asked to have their say on controversial plans to move Dudley Museum and Art Gallery to the archives building.

Plans have been drawn up to move the collection out its current base in St James’s Road which is due to close at the end of the year as part of cost-cutting plans announced by Dudley Council last October.

The closure announcement was met with much-opposition and more than 4,000 people signed an online petition, forcing the council to “compromise” by moving the museum’s artefacts the Tipton Road archives.

When the move was announced, the council said it would put the museum in the “heart of Dudley’s tourism complex” and offer visitors better parking, access for people with disabilities and transport links.

But residents are now being asked to provide evidence for and against the relocation proposals which will go before the overview and scrutiny management board meeting on Monday, July 18.

A spokesman for Dudley Council said: “The purpose of the scrutiny meeting is not to reconsider the decisions already made.

“However, the scrutiny board will hear all the information and evidence submitted and make a recommendation to the cabinet on the way forward.”

The agenda and reports for the scrutiny meeting appear on the council website seven days before the meeting, which will be held from 3pm in committee room two at the Council House in Priory Road.

Borough residents wanting to put forward evidence during a public forum session at the meeting are asked to register their interest by emailing the council at democratic.services@dudley.gov.uk, or calling 01384 815235 by no later than Thursday (July 14).

Alternatively, residents can submit written comments or make their views known to local ward councillors.