THE FOUNDING manager of Swindon's loss-making Steam museum is to leave his post. Andrew Lovett today blamed a lack of promised investment for lower than expected visitor numbers at the attraction over the last three years.

And he called for money to be spent on new attractions to bring in visitors.

Mr Lovett, 36, is leaving to take the number two job at the £46 million Centre for Contemporary Arts in Gateshead which opened last July.

He has been in charge at Steam since it opened three years ago at a cost of £13 million.

It was originally predicted to attract 250,000 visitors a year but instead has brought in less than 100,000.

Steam was expected to need a yearly council subsidy of £100,000 but next year has budgeted for £573,000.

When asked why Steam has fallen such a long way below expectations Mr Lovett said: "The original numbers for this project were flawed.

"If you are basing a business plan around a museum having a running train line and then you don't do that you must anticipate there's going to be a knock-on for visitors.

"If you are saying it's going to be part of a finished development here and that isn't done there is going to be a knock-on effect. The benefit of the location next to the Outlet Centre was also massively overstated.

"Visitors to the Outlet may go there 11 times a year but the proportion of those visitors we are going to get is not very high."

When asked what is needed to improve visitor numbers he said: "There needs to be an effort to sort out some of the problems at the site.

"There needs to be landscaping outside to create a site that's attractive for pedestrians.

"There also needs to be recognition that we need to develop the product and what we've got on offer.

"That could be establishing a live, running line, exhibitions or education programmes. You can't simply expect to build a museum and then not develop the product over time and expect numbers to continue to increase."

Steam has won 12 international awards over the last three years.

Despite the lower than expected visitor numbers Mr Lovett said he is proud of his work at Steam.

He came to the museum after previously working for a group of four museums in York.

Mr Lovett said: "I'm very proud of the staff that we've recruited to run the museum. We've had 280,000 visitors through since we opened.

"The reaction we have had from the public will stand head and shoulders above everything else we've achieved."

He said he has taken the decision to leave for career reasons.

News of his departure coincides with the start of a council inquiry into how Steam's £500,000-a-year subsidy can be reduced.

A five-strong working party of councillors from the three political parties is currently carrying an inquiry into Steam.

Today they were due to meet Swindon Council accountant Chris Wilson and their report is due to be completed by the end of next month.

Steam working party chairman councillor Nick Martin (Con, Shaw and Nine Elms) said: "Mark is taking a good opportunity and everyone wishes him well.

"His departure will provide some flexibility in the staffing and manning of the museum because that's one of the things that needs to be looked at."

Deputy manager Tim Bryan will take over as acting manager when Mr Lovett leaves. No decision has been taken about the future of the post.

Steam's troubled three years

June 2000: Steam is opened by Prince Charles at a total cost of around £13 million.

June 2001: Visitors for the year are 120,000 80,000 less than expected and puts the budget into the red. Plans are announced for a £250,000 scheme to bring a working steam train line to the museum but they have yet to be realised.

April 2002: Councillors suggest a name change may be the answer to Steam's problems.

October 2002: Nine new signposts are put up around Swindon to help people find Steam.

January 2003: With Steam's annual subsidy heading beyond £500,000, councillors reveal plans for an inquiry into how to cut the losses.

April 2003: The Steam working group is due to issue its report.