ONE of the most generous gifts in Nottingham's history was the gift of Newstead Abbey to the public in 1931.

Sir Julien Cahn bought the former home of Lord Byron to give it to the Corporation of Nottingham, now Nottingham City Council, for the public to enjoy.

But now, as opening hours are threatened to be scaled back to just one day a week, the granddaughter of Sir Julien has urged the city council to consider other options.

Miranda Rijks said her grandfather would be "distraught" about the council plans to restrict public access to the abbey.

The grounds will remain open every day but under the proposals people will only be able to visit the abbey and its Byron museum on Sundays during the summer months, and will have to join tours of 10 people.

Currently it is open four days a week in the summer.

Pre-booked groups of 10 people or more would be able to access the building throughout the year.

Mrs Rijks has now written to the council, urging them to give or sell the property to another organisation to keep the house open for public visits.

She said: "We understand the Government cuts but what is Nottingham doing to find another partner to run it? Where do English Heritage, National Trust come into it, or a private company to run it at a profit?

"We've all got the same aim – we want to keep it open.

"My grandfather gave it to the Corporation of Nottingham for them to be custodians so it could be open to the public.

"This year it's the 80th anniversary of him giving it to the public – essentially they're taking it away from the public on its 80th anniversary.

"That's why we need to work together – the money is not going to appear in the council's pocket, so what can we do?"

She is joined by numerous people across the world who have backed the campaign.

The current Lord Byron – Robin Lord Byron, who is the 13th Baron Byron of Rochdale in the Palatine of Lancashire – said: "This is very alarming and also very shortsighted."

Professor Michael O'Neill, chairman of the International Byron Society Advisory Board, said the proposals put at risk the "sterling work" done over the years to attract visitors.

Dr Christine Kenyoun Jones, member of the executive committee of the Byron Society, said: "I'd like to add my voice of disbelief and anger that the council would think of closing Newstead except on Sundays.

"The thousands who come to see the abbey because of its association with Byron would be bitterly disappointed."

Dr Matt Green, a lecturer in literature and social change at the University of Nottingham said he hopes the council will reconsider – as do Ian Frost and Bill Studdiford, an American duo who deliver Byron shows all over the world.

Ken Purslow, chairman of the Newstead Abbey Byron Society, said he had been inundated with e-mails and letters.

He said: "I'm getting a constant stream of people contacting me – everybody's feeling very angry the city council is not fulfilling its obligations."

The council spends £600,000 a year running the abbey and said its plans could halve that.

The original land deed from 1931 shows the transfer from Sir Julien to "The Lord Mayor Alderman and Citizens of the City of Nottingham".

The Newstead Abbey website confirms it "was presented to the Nottingham Corporation for the public to enjoy."

Councillor Dave Trimble, the council's portfolio holder for leisure and culture, said: "We are exploring other options with other organisations – including the National Trust and English Heritage – to see under what circumstances they could assist with the management of Newstead Abbey and Park.

"We are open to approaches from other interested organisations that could help protect the site and these discussions are on-going.

"Again, our priority is to protect the Byron legacy.

"We have always adhered to the covenant between the City and former owner Sir Julien Cahn and will continue to do this in all our discussions."

But Mrs Rijks, who has recently published a book about her grandfather, said if the city council can't afford to run it they need to work out a more sustainable plan to keep it open.

She said: "Our feeling is that he just didn't want national treasure lost to the nation.

"He was a great Byron fan and wanted people to be able to enjoy it.

"He bought it to give it to the public – that's my mother's understanding and my uncle's understanding and they were both around at that time."

The venue will still be available throughout the year for schools, conferences, weddings and special events.

Nottingham City Council will decide whether to approve these proposals at a meeting in March.

If agreed, the changes will be brought in after April, when the abbey opens to the public again throughout the summer season until October.