ACCUSATIONS that char-ges for use of archives at the Elgar Birthplace Museum amount to "exploitation" have been rebuffed by its director.

Charges of £4 per day for access to archives and 50p a sheet for A4 photocopying were introduced at the end of last year, much to the disgust of Malvern writer Kevin Allen, who has penned several books on the composer.

The author of Elgar the Cyclist, Elgar in Love and Portrait of Nimrod, describes the new fees as "swingeing" and their introduction as "a shock".

"Figures aside, these charges are wrong in principle," he said.

"We have a proud tradition in this country that our public heritage of records and documents should be freely available.

"It does no good at all for the name of the centre, and for the cause of serious Elgar research, that it is now one of the few such institutions in the country that charges.

"I trust the management committee will find better methods of raising funds than the apparent exploitation of those whose research and writing are largely a labour of love."

However, Cathy Sloan, director of the Lower Broadheath centre, defended the fees.

"We have introduced charges because we have to raise funds to care for the collections so that in 50 to 100 years scholars will be able to come back and see them," she said.

"The people who use the collections contribute a small amount towards this, and we feel that is fair."

She pointed out the centre is not Government-funded, adding that in the past it has relied purely on donations, money from its shop and grants.

She said the opening of a visitor centre in October 2000 meant more money was needed as staff are now spread over two sites, adding that visitor numbers have increased since its introduction.

The centre attracted below 10,000 people two years ago, but last year saw more than 12,000 through the gates, and next year anticipates more than 20,000.