BEACONSFIELD county councillor Margaret Dewar has achieved a long-time ambition to get rid of entrance charges at the county museum.

Cllr Dewar, the cabinet member for community affairs, has objected to the charge ever since it was first introduced about eight years ago.

Once she became a member of the cabinet and took responsibility for the museum in Aylesbury she seized her chance.

She has already agreed to scrap the £1.50 charge (children go free), but at present this won't happen until September, by which time the schools will be back.

Cllr Dewar is now trying to get the date put forward to the beginning of the school summer holidays.

She said the museum was about people's heritage, adding "I have a feeling about this. Our heritage is extremely important."

She said there was a relatively small amount of money involved about £6,000 to £8,000. But she said improvements to the restaurant which was too small at present and more things to sell in the shops might finance the difference

"People come with their children and the children will always want to spend money in the shop," she said

"I think if it is free it will encourage people to come."

She said the museum was the county museum, not the Aylesbury museum and that people in the south of the county either did not know it existed or did not think it had anything for them.

The museum also contains a new art gallery and the popular Roald Dahl Children's Gallery, which costs £2.75 for children and £3.50 for adults for an hour's visit.

Cllr Dewar will have to produce a report on how things are going after six months.