MERSEYSIDE’S fire museum is to close at its current base because of health and safety fears.
Checks have revealed extensive problems with the electrics at the centre in Crosby Road North, Crosby, which could cost up to £17,000 to fix.
Volunteers have now been told by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, which owns the building and leases it to a charitable Trust that it will shut down and the museum will relocate to Bridle Road, Bootle.
But museum volunteers are fearful they could lose their charitable status and many staff might be surplus to requirements.
Founder Danny Murphy said: “The fire service would look after funding and we have 25 people on our books of which I can’t see how their expertise would be needed anymore.”
Last night, fire chiefs said that “nothing would change apart from the museum’s location”.
A spokesman said: “We have extra space available and we have ideas to develop a fire heritage centre. We hope the Trust will come with us.”
