Closure of 'unique' Scots museum branded an 'outrage' as campaign launched to save it

Jim Slaven outside the People's Story museum in Edinburgh
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


A campaign has been launched to save a "unique" museum dedicated to working class life in Scotland's capital city.

The People's Story was shut without warning last month as council bosses desperately try to plug a blackhole in town hall spending.

Councillors have insisted the closure is temporary and blamed "staffing pressures" for the decision to lock the doors at the historic building on the Canongate.

But no fixed date has been given for its reopening amid fears the museum could close permanently due to wider cutbacks to public services.

The STUC has now joined the campaign to reopen the People's Story and blasted Edinburgh City Council for "abandoning" it.

Roz Foyer, the country's most senior trade unionist, said: "The People’s Story is unique in Edinburgh, the only place in Scotland’s capital city that documents the experience and conditions of working class people in the city.

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"We are deeply concerned that the council has pre-empted the debate on a proposed temporary closure and has already closed the museum’s doors, depriving locals of access to one of the only free attractions in the city centre.

"The Old Town has been laid bare by corporate developers and over-tourism, driving locals out as prices soar.

"This museum documented the experiences of working class Edinburgh and needs investment. Instead, it has been abandoned by the council."

The People's Story charts the day-to-day experiences of ordinary citizens in the capital from the late 18th century to the present day. It is now slated to shut until April next year.

It comes against the backdrop of a projected £26.7m overspend by Edinburgh City Council in the current year.

But the proposed scaling-back of museum access is only expected to save £205,000 - less than one per cent of the forecasted budget deficit.

Jim Slaven, coordinator of Edinburgh Detours, a not-for-profit organisation which organises guided tours about the city's social history, told Edinburgh Live: "It's a disgrace to find it's going to be closed for several months at least, without any consultation.

"We try and commemorate that immigrant working class history. The stuff in the museum is a vital part of that."

He added: "People are really outraged. This is the final cut for the Old Town, all the social spaces and community centres in the Old Town are gone.

"They've turned the city centre into a citadel for the rich and now they're trying to write us out of the history of the city as well."

The Record asked Edinburgh City Council for comment.

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