A supporter of Lancaster museums has spoken publicly of his "despair" over plans to cut their opening hours.
Christopher Tinmouth, of the Friends of Lancaster City Museum, told councillors that cutting up to 40 per cent of the museums budget was a "travesty of justice".
Mr Tinmouth was speaking at the Lancaster City Council budget meeting on Wednesday night, held at Morecambe Town Hall.
His speech defending the museums came before councillors voted through the 2023/24 budget proposals.
City council-run museums in Lancaster, including the City and Maritime Museums, will now have reduced opening hours from autumn 2023.
They will be cut from six days a week to three from October 1.
This will be followed by a full review of the local museums service which could save the council £300,000 a year.
An online petition calling for the City Museum to stay open six days a week has had more than 630 signatures at time of writing.
Related Story: Campaign launched to stop "draconian" cuts to Lancaster Museum opening hours - Beyond Radio
Mr Tinmouth said: "The (City) museum is dear to my heart and the heart of so many who call Lancaster their home.
"It has been a solace to me during times of great despair and I have grown as a person through my employment and association with the museum service.
"These are indeed times that are provoking despair for those who have the best interests of our culture and heritage at heart, when up to 40 per cent of the budget of the museum service is proposed to be cut.
"This is a travesty of justice not only for taxpayers and visitors, who I maintain have a civic right to have access to the shared cultural heritage of Lancaster, but to future generations of Lancastrians denied their right to connect with their past and create their own stories."
Robin Ashcroft, chair of trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum which is located inside the City Museum building, also spoke at the meeting.
"Over the past 12 months we have secured - working closely with museum staff - project funding in excess of £110.000," said Mr Ashcroft.
"One of the outputs from this has been the Hinge of Fate exhibition. This is a fresh, vibrant and cutting edge temporary exhibition - prioritising social as much as military history - and has engaged audiences outside the walls of the museum, brought in many communities and delivered increased footfall and therefore secondary spend into Lancaster's city centre.
"Within your own council plan, you identify the importance of access and involvement in culture and heritage. On this basis your museums are a frontline service.
"We fully understand that you are facing a significant overspend, but let's not know the cost of something and the value of nothing."
Councillor Sandra Thornberry, cabinet member for arts, leisure, culture and wellbeing, said in response, said: "Can I reassure you that the cutbacks to museum funding are in no way a reflection on the museums themselves. We are all upset to impose this funding cut."
Councillor Caroline Jackson, leader of Lancaster City Council, said last week that the museums review could lead to a "big revamp" of the City Museum.
She said: "We're struggling to keep our museums going...we've had to do some unpalatable things but we are committed to trying to reverse those changes.
"We may not be able to manage the same model, but we still want to have museums that support education and interest in our local community.
"We are looking forward to going for a big revamp. It's a bit tired, the City Museum.
"I know some people would love it to stay the same, or young people would want us to provide something that gives them a clear narrative about the past.
"There is a chance that now, we could really go for a revamp. So it's not all bad news."
The year 2023 marks the Lancaster museum service's centenary year.
The city council has said that cuts are necessary to balance the books after "spiralling inflation and years of government under-funding" made worse by the current cost of living crisis and rise in energy prices.
The city council was facing a budget deficit of £2.97m for 2022/23, rising to a predicted £8.41m by 2025/26.
Related Stories: INTERVIEWS: Full breakdown of "painful" Lancaster City Council budget plans revealed - Beyond Radio
*Mr Tinmouth and Mr Ashcroft's speeches were interrupted by an unrelated disturbance in the public gallery during Wednesday night's meeting which led to a man being arrested. They were later able to complete their speeches.
Man arrested after disturbance at council meeting in Morecambe - Beyond Radio
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