Leeds City Councillors expect to close Thwaite Watermill as a Museums and Galleries attraction from April 1 as a step towards quitting the lease to save up to £750k over the next five years.
Thwaite Watermill is open to the general public during weekends and school holidays only, and during term time for booked groups and school visits only, so the proposed date of closure is not expected to have a significant impact on visitors.
The council will honour all existing bookings until October 2024 and will continue to work closely with site owners the Canal & River Trust and other stakeholders on any transition arrangements. The proposed closure and surrender of the lease will be published as a key decision and subject to call-in by elected members.
A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said: “The council does not take any decisions affecting our visitor attractions lightly. However, the financial pressures we are now facing have forced us to look at options which would never have previously been considered.
“Ending the lease on Thwaite allows us to balance the urgent and unavoidable need to make cost savings whilst continuing to provide a high quality experience for our visitors at Leeds Museums and Galleries’ other eight sites, all of which are owned by Leeds City Council.”
