THE transfer of the running of Portland Museum to an independent charitable trust has moved a step closer.

The museum is currently run by Weymouth and Portland Borough Council but a steering group has been set up to help it become an independently run attraction.

Now group members have been told the formation of the new company to take over the reigns from the council is almost complete and Councillor David Harris, chairman of the steering group, said he was delighted' with the progress.

"We want to ensure that the museum remains a well-used, popular, year-round community resource, providing learning for life opportunities for the people of Portland," he said.

"I'm delighted with the progress on this that has taken place over the first few months of this year.

"The museum accreditation and transfer of assets is a complex piece of work, but the recent handover of the Boscawen Centre to the Osprey Leisure Trust has given us a useful understanding process."

Trevor Primett, chairman-elect of the new charitable trust, was similarly pleased with the headway.

He said: "We're now in a position to negotiate the Service Level Agreement for the transfer. When this is agreed we will finalise our business plan, expand the board of directors and be able to launch the museum as an independent charitable company."

The steering group is made up of representatives from the borough council, Portland Town Council, the Portland Partnership and independent residents.