VOLUNTEERS and staff at Barnet museum are continuing their fight to extend their building despite councillors’ decision to refuse plans.

During Tuesday night’s annual council meeting at Hendon town hall, Conservative Councillor David Longstaff was sworn in as Barnet’s New Mayor, and as a professional actor, councillors referenced Shakespeare on more than one occasion.

Following the meeting, Labour Councillor Devra Kay tweeted: “Tory at Barnet Annual Council quotes Shakespeare re Battle of Barnet while her party want to wipe important site of battle off the map.”

Labour councillor Paul Edwards, who has previously shown his support for the plans, said: “It was a disappointing when the plans were refused.

“The museum really needed the extension for more exhibition space, and the place is popular with school children who enjoy visiting the museum. The battle of Barnet was an important, historical event Barnet’s history.

“So I thought it was ironic that the Conservative councillors supported the museum at first, but then sent it to a planning committee’s decision.

“Then at the annual council meeting, when they talked about the battle of Barnet mentioned by Shakespeare, I could not miss the opportunity to reply to Cllr Kay’s tweet because they voted against plans to for the museum to house artefact from the battle itself.”

In November last year, plans to extend Barnet Museum were turned down, as Councillor Melvin Cohen, Conservative chairman of the committee was given the casting vote.

The vote had split the planning committee, with Conservative councillors voting against it and Labour voting for.

The Museum applied for an extension, as staff members said the collections and archives need more exhibition space; and there is a need for room to facilitate education, research and conservation work.

Michael Norohha, a trustee of the museum, who spoke in front of the committee last November in favour of the plans said: “They voted against us last year, when we put a bid in for an extension because we need more exhibition space.

“We have been here 80 years, and at last the council are doing something as they are currently considering us for a long term lease. The demands on the Museum are growing and are due to grow hugely.

“We did understand the objections of the Planning Officers. It is, after all, part of the values of a Museum to conserve and preserve; however, we felt that the Planning Officers’ approach was tendentious and unfair and did not take fully into account the benefits of the Museum. We have not given up; we are currently considering our options.”