Summary of the report's recommendations:
Change the name - people find it confusing because it could apparently refer to a Turkish bath. Should include reference to the Great Western Railway.
Parking - the high cost of parking at £12 a day is putting off many visitors. The committee says parking charges should be reduced or made free. Negotiations are to begin with McArthur Glen which owns the neighbouring Outlet Village and the joint Steam/Outlet Village car parks.
Signage - signs on the way to Steam are considered inadequate, despite the recent introduction of 10 small billboard signs on the main approaches to the museum and Designer Outlet Village. Joint motorway signs for Steam and the Outlet Village should be introduced, paid for by McArthur Glen.
Staffing levels - freeze permanent staff vacancies pending a review of staff levels to be complete by July 2003. This means founding general manager, Andrew Lovett, who has left to take up a post at the Baltic Centre of Contemporary Arts in Gateshead, may not be replaced. The museum employs the equivalent of 20 full-time staff.
Workshop area - the large area formerly used as a heritage workshop in the museum should either be let out commercially or transferred to another museum. One suggestion is that the Swindon Museum in Bath Road, Old Town, be moved there leading to a substantial saving in overheads for Swindon Council.
Coffee shop - Swindon Services stopped running the caf at the end of March because of losses. Six commercial companies have expressed an interest in running the caf at no cost to the museum. This should be pursued.
Development of the "piazza" area outside Steam. This landscaping work was promised by private developers as part of the initial plan for the Churchward area but has yet to happen.
Presentation - it is felt that the entrance to Steam is not visible enough. Large railway artefacts could be placed en-route to the museum.
Repeat visits - money should be invested in introducing new activities to encourage repeat visits to Steam.
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