The new Kirklees Council Culture draft document proposes the complete closure of Red House Museum in Gomersal. If these proposals are passed, Red House would be closed in October and the buildings sold - not necessarily as a museum (the euphemism is: "appropriate uses would be found for these buildings").

Red House was built in 1660 and was the home of the Taylor Family until 1920. It has important Brontë connections and is now furnished as a home in the 1830s when Charlotte Brontë was a frequent visitor. Red House, the Taylor family and the Spen Valley area were all featured in Charlotte Brontë's novel Shirley. Also on site are the recreated 1830s gardens, the restored Barn which illustrates the numerous Brontë connections in the area and the renovated Cartsheds which houses the 'Spen Valley Stories' gallery.

The site is an important asset for Kirklees and local businesses as a tourist destination which attracts visitors from all over the world to the area. Unlike Council Services which can be cut and reinstated in better economic times, if the proposal to close and sell the site were passed an extremely important part of Spen Valley's heritage would be lost forever.