Way forward agreed for Chiltern Open Air Museum

Earlier this month Chiltern Open Air Museum said it was forced to cancel a popular Halloween event by the landowner, developer Comer Homes.

A group to save the museum quickly reached almost 1000 members and the issue was raised in Parliament by Chesham and Amersham MP Sarah Green.

Read more:

• Chiltern Open Air Museum hopes to 'resolve issues' with land owner
• Chiltern Open Air Museum Halloween event cancelled after row
• Locals react as Graham Taylor statue fenced off ahead of Luton clash

Museum Chair Verena Clark and Comer Homes Chairman Brian Comer jointly signed off on a statement which said: “We have today held constructive discussions, facilitated by local councillors, to resolve the issues related to the Chiltern Open Air Museum and its freehold.

“These discussions have led to an agreed way forward. Both parties would now ask that they are left to conclude these matters in private.”

One of the conditions for the developer to be granted planning permission for luxury homes in Newland Park, where the museum is situated, was that the museum freehold would he transferred “for the sum of £1”.

Comer Homes said that the "agreed way forward" will involve finalising the agreed terms of the freehold transfer, which it says it has been pushing for since 2020.

Today I received reassurance from the govt that the Arts Council have taken an interest in the future of the Chiltern Open Air Museum.

The museum is an important cultural & educational site cherished both locally & nationally. We must support efforts to help the museum thrive. pic.twitter.com/kw4IrioRgL

— Sarah Green MP 🔶 (@SarahGreenLD) October 20, 2022

It added that this will hopefully be completed soon as “both parties were happy with the discussions today".

Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Ms Green said: “The Chiltern Open Air Museum is a much-loved part of the local communities’ culture and history and is frequently used as a filming location.

“Sadly, a dispute with the developer who owns the freehold to the museums land has forced it to cancel the Halloween spectacular and forced it to give up vital funds the museum relies on.”

She asked the government to join her in supporting local efforts to allow the museum to thrive and was assured it is aware of the situation and that the Arts Council was in direct contact with the museum.

Fiona Richard, museum annual pass holder and member of the Save Chiltern Open Air Museum group, said: “The community has been up in arms and worried they are going to lose the museum if they can’t generate the income through its normal activities.”

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