THE COUNCIL has backtracked on plans to cut opening times at the William Morris Gallery and Vestry House Museum.

A proposal to close the attractions during the week has been ditched in favour of a compromise, which will see doors opened for limited hours on Thursday and Friday.

However a total saving of £56,000 will have to be made in other areas.

Cleaners will only visit the venues once a week due to funding limitations - saving £13,000.

The venues will be closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and will open all day Saturday and Sunday.

Schools and other booked groups will be able to visit on Tuesday and Wednesday during term time and school holidays. Both sites will also be open to the public on Wednesday during school holidays. Discussions are underway to increase opening hours if volunteers can be found.

Cabinet member for leisure, arts and culture, Cllr Naz Sarkar, denied a change of mind.

"We are achieving the same level of savings that we were always going to do. We were always looking at more flexible opening times but the main thing we were looking at was increasing customer access. We were looking at the times when most people come."

"I'm really proud of our two museums - and I'm delighted that so many people hold them in such obvious affection," he said.

But the fate of the staff, including William Morris Gallery's curator, Peter Cormack, who is hailed by many as the world's leading Morris expert, is still unsure.

Possible restructuring is due to be outlined to staff today (Thursday).

Chairman of the Waltham Forest Arts Council, Tim Bennett-Goodman, said he thought the whole issue had been "dreadfully mishandled."

"The council's attitude seems to be to talk to people after they have decided what they are going to do."

He said the decision was especially bad as Waltham Forest is expected to contribute to the Cultural Olympiad in the run up to the 2012 Games.

"It blows the borough's cultural reputation out of the water. If these last cultural treasures are going to be curtailed, what do we have left?"

At the meeting on Tuesday, council leader, Cllr Clyde Loakes, said the council was making difficult decisions in order to improve services.