HISTORICAL artefacts hidden out of sight in Colchester are set to be sent into storage…in Cheshire salt mines.

Colchester Council is selling off the Museum Resource Centre, in Ryegate Road, Colchester, as it no longer meets its requirements.

Items stored in Ryegate Road include paintings and Roman artefacts discovered in the town.

Staff are set to be moved out and will be based at the council’s storage facility at Heckworth Close, which will be expanded using the money from the sale.

However, even with the expansion, the new site will not be able to house all of the artefacts the council owns.

Tim Young (Lab), Colchester Council’s portfolio holder for culture and regeneration, said: “When it was first mentioned to me, sending them to salt mines in Cheshire, my eyebrows were raised.

“But our museum manager said it happens quite a lot and a number of authorities go down this route.

“We can’t display everything unfortunately.

“It’s a sensible way of dealing with our treasures and keeping them in good condition, especially as we have so many of them.

“It was by far the most cost effective option.”

It has yet to be decided which artefacts will be sent north but if the decision to sell the Museum Resource Centre is approved at the Cabinet meeting next week, it could be just a matter of weeks before they move.

Cheshire salt mines already house important documents and treasures from across the UK.

The National Archives started using the space in 2010 because it has consistent temperature and humidity and is naturally free from ultraviolet light, rodents and flooding, meaning the artefacts cannot be damaged while in storage.

The mine, which is in Winsford, is big enough to be able to house every piece of archive material in the country.

It has not yet been revealed which mine will house the Colchester artefacts.

But wherever they end up, Colchester Council will have 24-hour access to its artefacts and be able to recall items back.

Colchester was set to keep all of its treasures by creating a Wonderhouse at the old bus depot in Queen Street and putting them on display.

But the plans were abandoned earlier this year after money could not be found to make it happen.

Following the Cabinet meeting next Wednesday, the Museum Resource Centre will either be put on the market or someone will take it on as a long term lease.

Mr Young said he expected there would be a lot of interest in the site because it is so close to Castle Park.

He said: “It’s in a really good location.

“We expect a lot of interest, especially from developers. I would’ve thought apartments could draw interest in that area.”