A SECOND bid to secure funding for a proposed Rayleigh Town Museum has been submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Mike Davies, town historian and founder of Rayleigh Through the Looking Glass, saw his initial proposal rejected in December, but was encouraged to submit a second bid by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The new bid is for £95,000 to help buy display cabinets and cover costs of setting up the museum. Mr Davies is hopeful of a positive outcome second time around.

He said: “We have addressed the issues highlighted with our previous application, so we are just waiting by the phone now for a response.

“They were concerned about our sustainability and were sceptical about our Friends of Rayleigh Museum Group, but we have had 350 people sign up in four weeks, committing to pay an annual membership fee.

“That has far exceeded the Heritage Lottery Fund’s expectations and we have demonstrated all the professional advice we have taken on the project as they were also concerned about us being well meaning amateurs.”

Mr Davies has secured the location for the museum, 91 High Street, and a planning application for the museum’s creation has been approved by Rochford District Council.

The historian has accumulatedawealth of Rayleigh memorabilia to display in the museum, since becoming town historian in 1999.

Mark Francois, MP for Rayleigh and Wickford, said: “I am very supportive of Mike Davies’ proposals for a Rayleigh Town Museum not only as the local MP, but as a patron and friend of the museum too.

“The fact the Friends group has signed up over 300 members in a just a few months is a good indication of the level of support there is locally for the proposal.

“The museum would be a heritage asset to both the town and its people, as well as those coming from further afield.

“I wish Mike and his team all the best with their reapplication to the Heritage Lottery Fund.”