David Lingard, chairman of Dartmouth Museuem, writes:

Despite the casual remarks made at a council meeting and reported on page 11 of last week's paper, a firm plan for the use of the flat above the museum in the Butterwalk was formally presented to the Dartmouth Council by the museum trustees a year ago. The aim is to create a first class Heritage Resource and Research Centre for the benefit of the population of the whole town.

The Museum already tells of so many of the great events of which Dartmouth has played its part. The new proposed museum annexe would use its main room to display more items from Dartmouth's story including works of art and maybe the town's regalia.

It will be fitted out with modern electronic equipment and thus become available to local schools and adult groups. The museum's archives will be accessible in paper form and - with the help of the Dartmouth History Research Group - many will also be in electronic format; in addition the audio and video recordings of the memories of local people will be much more useable.

The Museum's catalogue - already available to members - will become more widely accessible. Other rooms will house the museum office and a badly needed conservation workshop; there will be new displays - notably of Newcomen - and also an archive research area will be set up.

The Museum's library will also be moved leaving the amazing Jesse Room with its unique ceiling at the other end of the Butterwalk clear and more readily viewed by both local people and visitors.

The present kitchen of the flat is empty but will be given limited facilities to allow the main room to be used for some social events. .

Over the years the flat has received very little modernising but it is intended that all the work will be undertaken by the museum without the use of any public money.

The museum is an independent registered charity and does not receive grants from any statutory body such as central government or local authorities.

With the council's agreement this can be another 2012 success and jubilee project for the voluntary sector.