Despite a temporary reprieve, the future of Red House Museum, which has important Bronte connections, is still hanging in the balance.

Kirklees Council had proposed closing the Gomersal property, the former home of Charlotte Bronte’s friend Mary Taylor, to cut costs.

But following hundreds of objections, Council leaders have pledged to keep the museum open for now.

The reprieve is dependant on a plan being drawn up, within six months, to find £116,000 a year to keep the museum up and running. The Council is looking at possibly reducing overheads such as staff costs, and charging admission at museums across Kirklees.

Kirklees Council leader Mehboob Khan said: "It’s about no options being ruled out at this stage. It could be introducing charges at Red House, charges at other museum sites across Kirklees, as well as income generation, such as being able to hire out some of our museums for functions.”

A Communities and Leisure Services proposal, which will go to full council on February 22, includes a package of reduced opening hours which will include closing Red House on weekdays over winter.

But council officers claim the museum has made a contribution to “leading Kirklees out of recession” and charging an entrance fee may reduce use of the site.

The Communities and Leisure Services report says: “Kirklees Museums have seen increased throughput over the last 18 months. This has been viewed as a result of the economic downturn, with families choosing to spend leisure time closer to home where the impact on disposable income is far less.

“The introduction of charging to these local facilities may result in a reduction of throughput at museum sites, compounded by the fact the service is proposing a significant reduction in opening hours.”

To the hundreds who signed petitions and wrote blogs against the proposed closure, the temporary reprieve is welcome – but they know they can’t afford to be complacent.

Gordon North, vice chairman of Spen Valley Civic Society, is meeting Kirklees Council Cabinet members to draw up a business plan to make the museum more profitable.

“It will be taken forward by people on the ground as ways of stopping it losing money and broadening the appeal and making money so it can stay open, not just for one year but for years to come,” says Gordon.

“The campaigners have opened people’s eyes to the fact that museums are beloved institutions and part of our history and culture.”

The Georgian property belonged to mill-owner and banker Joshua Taylor, whose daughter Mary was Charlotte Bronte’s friend. Briarmains, the house Charlotte referred to in her novel Shirley was based on Red House, and some of the characters were understood to have been inspired by the Taylor family.

Red House was a family home until it was purchased by the former Spenborough Council and turned into a museum.

Around 30,000 visitors from the UK and across the world come to Red House every year, many of them on the Bronte trail. It is also a facility for schoolchildren and hosts regular activities and workshops.

Historian Gill Cookson of Cleckheaton, who co-wrote a book about Gomersal, says closing Red House was a proposal which should never have been considered.

“There is more interest in local history now than there has been,” she says. “They should have done the thinking before putting proposals forward.

“Of course, we need to think of different ways to support museums and heritage features. It has never been easy finding money for heritage, it has always been a struggle, but there is new potential for events and activities.

Gill says the extent of support for Red House will provide foundations for taking the museum forward. “It is a good basis for making plans, knowing you have a network of people who will help,” she says. “But I do think that Kirklees has some responsibility to offer support to the community.”

Imelda Marsden, a member of the Bronte Society, said it would be “foolish” to close the museum, a global tourist attraction.

Andrew McCarthy, director of the Bronte Parsonage Museum, said: "We were very keen to put forward our view that the museum should remain open and are happy to explore ways to develop closer links with Red House."