2:37pm Thursday 8th March 2007
By Sarah Cosgrove
ART lovers from all over the world are uniting to protest against council plans to limit access to William Morris Gallery by signing an online petition.
The petition, totalling 528 signatures so far, has attracted support from as far away as Australia, Canada and the USA.
Many of those who signed the petition expressed anger and disgust at the gallery's hours being cut back from April, to Saturdays, Sundays, and Thursday and Friday afternoons.
Australian Robert Reason said he had travelled all the way from down under to see the world-famous Arts and Crafts and Pre-Raphelite collection at the gallery in Lloyd Park, Forest Road, praising its "rich diversity".
"This magnificent collection should remain open and accessible to all," he said.
"Celebrate this great designer, which you were so fortunate to have in Walt-ham Forest."
Scot Edward Bennett from Rochester, New York, called the cuts "shameful".
Paula Sigman from Lowery Glendale, California, said: "This collection is an international treasure, particularly under the guidance of the experts who curate it."
Other signatories were shocked or just plain baffled that the council was considering the cuts at all.
Geoff Bowman, from Felixstowe, Suffolk, said he had used the gallery a great deal during his student years, calling it "an oasis in a poor and industrialised Walthamstow."
And Jackie Richardson from Dyfed, Wales, summed up the opinions of many saying: "I think the people making this decision have lost the plot completely."
* A celebration of William Morris' life is being planned for his birthday, March 24.
Organisers hope for a lively event to show their civic pride in Waltham Forest's most famous designer.
Artists are also being invited to bring their work to form part of a living art exhibition on the day.
To participate or for more details email roger.huddle@ ntlworld.com
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