Members of Write Out Loud’s Stockport’s group are backing the fight against proposed cuts that would see their meeting place at Stockport art gallery closed to the public on weekdays from Tuesday to Friday, 1pm to 5pm.

It is understood that Write Out Loud’s meetings on Monday evenings at the art gallery are not currently threatened by the plans. The council is expected to make a decision in January next year, with any cuts imposed from April 2013. 

A petition has been launched by Stockport Arts to fight the proposals. At the latest count it had more than 900 signatures, and they want many more.

The petition says: “We urge Stockport metropolitan borough council (SMBC) to reconsider proposals affecting the use of Stockport art gallery and war memorial. 

SMBC proposes to restrict opening times to Saturday and Sunday afternoons only, and to stop its historic use for temporary and community exhibitions.

The gallery will no longer fulfil its function as a place where contemporary art, local, regional or national, can be displayed and viewed, which it has done since opening in 1925. Stockport art gallery and war memorial is a unique Grade II listed building, built entirely from money raised from voluntary public subscriptions and appears to be the only one of its kind nationally. 

”We oppose the council’s proposals because it will: 
• severely curtail the original intended functions of Stockport art gallery and war memorial. 
• remove the only provision in Stockport of quality exhibition space for local and regional artists. 
• impact on the local community, by withdrawing the only independent focus on art in Stockport. 
• impact on the provincial role of Stockport in encouraging artistic endeavour and contributing to national cultural development.”

Nigel Astell, a long-standing member of Write Out Loud Stockport, who recalls the group moving to the art gallery in 2009, said: “We are making our strong views known so that there should be no cutbacks at all. This in turn will make sure that we can stay at the art gallery. I hope we can get support on this from down south as well!”