A NATIONAL charitable trust has waded in to a row over job losses at museums.

As previously reported in The Gazette specialist roles at venues such as the Milestones Museum, Willis Museum and Basing House – run by the Hampshire Cultural Trust (HTC) - could be replaced in favour of digital investment to create cultural hubs.

This issue has alerted the British archaeological trust Rescue to try to find out where the problems within HTC are.

Rescue has written letters to the chief executive director of HTC and the director of culture, communities and business services at Hampshire County Council (HCC).

A letter to the HTC read: “We are at a loss to understand why after such a short period these problems should have arisen. We would like to know what you think has gone wrong and what the trust requires to operate successfully.”

The trust confirmed there will be a 10 per cent reduction in its staff but argued the wider changes it was making would “lead to rich and engaging experiences for our customers”. It also told The Gazette’s sister paper the Hampshire Chronicle the trust is dealing with funding reductions.

Set up in 2014, the trust operates arts and museums facilities previously operated by HCC and Winchester City Council.

A spokesman on behalf of both HCC and the city council said: “As founding partners, we strongly support Hampshire Cultural Trust’s mission to promote Hampshire as a great cultural county, to reinvigorate our museum collections.

“Like other organisations that receive public funding support, the trust has to face the challenges that ongoing national austerity brings.

However, residents should be reassured that we play a full and active role on the board of trustees.”