Hunter House campaigners have vowed not to give up on the museum after South Lanarkshire Council confirmed its closure as part of today’s budget cuts.

Members of the community and MSP Linda Fabiani have spoken out about the closure and insisted they will work together to ensure East Kilbride can take on the responsibility for its landmark museum.

Council papers stated that Hunter House would close indefinitely until the community can come up with a plan.

The papers also stated that: 'The buildings, however, would be kept wind and water tight by the Council to allow the community to develop a feasible financial plan to continue their operation'.

Campaigner Kirsten Robb said: “The council's decision, although sad for South Lanarkshire Museum Service, is an opportunity for East Kilbride to enhance and improve our museum into a vibrant community resource.

“The executive committee will be discussing the future of Hunter House and how the community can run it at a meeting at the end of February, after the horse’s bolted.

“We are preparing a feasibility survey how we could get lottery funding and realistically what we can do.

"We have formed a group and will look at different options as there are a lot of legal issues because it is a historic property but it’s a great opportunity for the museum.”

The closure of the museum was just one of a number of savings in the council’s £25m budget package.

MSP Linda Fabiani added: “Obviously I wanted the Council to make a commitment to keep this important East Kilbride institution, but at least there is still a chance of it being saved for the Town by local people working together to convince the Council that it can be run by the community for the community.

“South Lanarkshire Council must take this option extremely seriously and do all they can to facilitate it.

"I’ll be doing all I can to help”