The Somerset Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury is urgently seeking new funding avenues after Glastonbury Town Council rejected its request for a £44,000 grant. The museum, managed by the South West Heritage Trust, is facing a significant financial shortfall following Somerset Council's decision to cut its funding entirely.

The Trust had hoped to secure the grant over two years to help plug the gap left by the council's cuts. However, during the August meeting of Glastonbury Town Council, it was clear that the town's resources couldn't stretch to cover the full amount.

Mayor of Glastonbury, Councillor Lokabandhu, highlighted the council's financial constraints: "Somerset South West Heritage Trust manages the Rural Life Museum. They've been in the habit of being funded by Somerset Council, who's cut their grant completely. They've asked us for a £44,000 grant over two years to make up that shortfall. That's way more than we could give."

Recognising the importance of the museum to the local community, the town council proposed a compromise. They offered a £5,000 grant—substantially less than requested but still a considerable contribution given the council's limited budget. The council suggested this funding could be tied to a community benefit, such as providing free entry to the museum for up to 1,000 local residents as part of a Community Review survey.

"We would like to offer them something," said Councillor Lokabandhu. "Our proposal is to give £5,000, which is a large grant for us but much less than they want. We're also suggesting that we tie it to a substantial benefit for the local community so that the local community gets something tangible out of it."

The Trust, meanwhile, is now focused on finding alternative ways to secure the museum's future.

A spokesperson for the South West Heritage Trust said, "Somerset Rural Life Museum is run by a charity, the South West Heritage Trust, which delivers a range of heritage services across Somerset and Devon. The charity is actively developing its mix of funding streams. We aim to increase commercial activity linked to Somerset Rural Life Museum, with initiatives including room hire, so we can continue to provide access to the county's rich heritage collections. We are working with Glastonbury Town Council to develop a suitable community ticketing offer for local residents."