Mark Francois, local MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, is delighted at the news that the Heritage Lottery Fund have pledged £90,000 towards the establishment of a Rayleigh Town Museum.
Mark has supported the project from its inception, under the leadership of local town historian and founder of Rayleigh Through the Looking Glass, Mike Davies. Mr Davies saw his initial proposal rejected in December but, following encouragement from the local MP and HLF, submitted a second, ultimately successful, bid in March.
Mr Davies has already secured the location for the museum, 91 High Street, and a planning application for the museum’s creation has been approved by Rochford District Council.
Commenting on the news, Mark Francois said:
"I am absolutely delighted at the news that Mike Davies’ proposals for a Rayleigh Town Museum have been successful, not only as the local MP, but as a Patron and ‘Friend’ of the museum too. Mike Davies and his team have put in an extraordinary amount of work towards the project and I am pleased this this has borne fruit in the form of a substantial grant from the HLF. The Museum will be an asset to the town, both to local residents and visitors and I look forward to seeing it progress. I would like to congratulate Mike Davies and his team and all those local people who have joined the friends of the museum, who I am sure will have contributed to today’s successful outcome. This is great news for Rayleigh."