http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-news/2012/09/10/black-country-living-museum-to-cut-70-jobs-97319-31801482/
Very sad news (especially for the employees affected) but it does raise questions about the future of our "living" hertiage managed by the likes of the Black Country Museum and Severn Valley Railway. The economy and the awful summer weather has not helped, but if museums are struggling and are having to lay off staff it does not bode well. Also, many organisations are struggling to recruit younger volunteers, and without them the skills and the abilities to maintain industrial artifacts and show off traditional skills will be under threat. Could the modern world and a declining interest in heritage among younger people prove to be a bigger threat to the survival of the relics of our past than the bulldozers?
(There is probably at least a 30 minute film that could be made for this topic).