The man who developed Pictavia has said he is surprised the closure-threatened Angus tourist attraction has survived for so long.
The future of the museum in Brechin has been under threat since last year, when VisitScotland indicated it was closing its information centre within the attraction.
Angus Council’s development and enterprise committee will meet on Wednesday, with the recommendation that the museum closes at the end of the current season on October 31.
Retired project manager Stewart Wilkie was charged with the task of delivering a Pictish centre for Angus after moving from Tayside Regional Council.
He said: “My personal view was that once visitors had seen Pictavia, there would be no significant repeat visits and this proved to be the case.
“Any viable visitor centre requires repeat visits for continuity of business in the longer term.
“I don’t know if the Jorvik Visitor Centre in England has this dilemma as a single-themed (Vikings) visitor centre but it certainly affected the Angus version possibly because Angus is peripheral in Scotland.
“I am surprised that the Pictavia Visitor Centre survived for 15 years.
“I am also surprised to hear about the demise of Pictavia under an SNP-controlled council in the year of a Scottish independence referendum. You could not make it up.”
The museum, at Brechin Castle Centre, opened in 1999 at a cost of £1.2 million, with the expectation that it would attract about 25,000 visitors per year.
However, only 13,000 people went through its doors in its first year and visitors have steadily declined to just 3,500 a year.
It has lost £27,000 a year for the past four years.
Mr Lynch added: “At the time, it was seen as a visitor centre rather than a museum.
“The cultural services department (not being funders of the project) at the time, wanted to run Pictavia but this was not accepted by the SNP council.
“So in conjunction with an Edinburgh-based consultancy firm, a feasibility study was carried out including both a design proposal and a business plan for its operation.
“As the project manager for the project, I was sceptical about the projected 25,000 visitor numbers per annum because I am not convinced about public interest in ancient history or Angus as a major tourist destination.
“However, with an SNP council, there was strong political support for the £1.3 million project.”
In his report to councillors, chief executive Richard Stiff suggested that a six-figure investment was required to update the attraction.
A review also highlighted that short-term investment may create a short-term bounce in visitor numbers but was unlikely to be sustainable in the long term.
* The final event of the season at Pictavia will take place on Saturday from 1pm to 3pm, with a recital by accomplished harpist Karen Marshalsay.
Normal entrance fees apply, there is no extra charge for this event and booking is not required.