It is with sorrow one reads of the possible demise of the Costume Museum at Shambellie House, near Dumfries ("Museum chiefs face bias claim", The Herald, November 21 & Letters, November 21).

It is a most attractive asset of the area. Surely there is an opportunity for a partnership to develop to operate this property and retain it as an important and valued part of our national heritage.

A partnership between the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) and National Museums Scotland (NMS) seems to work to everyone's advantage at the National Museum of Rural Life in East Kilbride. Perhaps the NTS, with Historic Scotland involvement, could co-operate with NMS to jointly administer Shambellie. The NTS is, for the most part, particularly good at operating country house-type museums and Shambellie, with its fine grounds, would complement the trust's nearby Threave estate with its Victorian house and renowned gardens. I hope NMS will look at all possible measures to safeguard Shambellie rather than rush into any act of closure.

Dr Gilbert T Bell,

8 Mains River,

Erskine.